Titian 1487/90 – 1576

David and Goliath

oil on canvas (300 × 285 cm) — 1542-44 Santa Maria della Salute, Venice

Titian biography

This work is linked to 1 Samuel 17:51

David prays after decapitating Goliath. The opening in the sky indicates divine approval.

The painting is now in the church of Santa Maria della Salute in Venice. It was originally made as a ceiling painting for the Santo Spirito in Isola. Titian made two other ceiling paintings for that church, one on Cain and Abel and one on the Sacrifice of Isaac.

The paintings have similar compositions. They have clear diagonal lines and there is balance in the poses of the figures.

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