David with the Head of Goliath

Andrea del Castagno · c. 1450/1455
National Gallery of Art, Washington

Andrea del Castagno painted this David in Florence about 1450–1455 on a shield of leather stretched over wood, wide at the top and narrow at the bottom. Such shields were carried in parades and ceremonies, not in battle.

David is shown as a young man striding forward, one arm flung up, the sling still in his other hand. At his feet lies the giant’s head with the stone in his forehead.

From the text

The sling and the stones from the brook (1 Samuel 17:40)

The stone sinking into the giant’s forehead (1 Samuel 17:49)

David winning “with a sling and a stone” (1 Samuel 17:50)

The artist’s own

The fight and its end in one picture

David in a short Florentine tunic, his pose like an ancient statue

Painted on a parade shield; Florentines liked David as a figure for their small city standing up to stronger enemies

Details

The raised arm

David flings his left arm up as he strides forward.

The sling

Still in his right hand, its strap trailing behind him.

The giant

The head lies on the rocky ground, the stone in the forehead.

A shield

The curved top edge of the leather parade shield.

Andrea del Castagno, Florentine, before 1419–1457. National Gallery of Art, Washington (Widener Collection, 1942.9.8) · Tempera on leather on wood · NGA Open Access: "Images of these works are available free of charge for any use, commercial or non-commercial, under Creative Commons Zero (CC0)." (NGA open data: published_images.csv openaccess = 1)

The verses

1 Sam 17:40And David took his staff in his hand, selected five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag. And with his sling in hand, he approached the Philistine.

1 Sam 17:48–51As the Philistine started forward to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Then David reached into his bag, took out a stone, and slung it, striking the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground. Thus David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him. David ran and stood over him. He grabbed the Philistine’s sword and pulled it from its sheath and killed him; and he cut off his head with the sword. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran.