David with the Head of Goliath (ca. 1515–16, Met-Objekt 5947)
Original title: David with the head of Goliath
kurzbeschreibung
David bends over the head of Goliath, which lies on the ground, in this small upright print by Marcantonio Raimondi, made around 1515–16. The mix of etching and engraving belongs among Raimondi's biblical scenes.
Description
Grasping the giant's head with both hands, the muscular, barefoot David has a sash slung across his shoulder. The dead man's wavy hair stands out against David's curls. Trees and grass suggest a rural setting. Grays and whites dominate the image, and the linework in the figures and their surroundings is precise.
Context
Raimondi, an Italian engraver of the Renaissance, became known for reproductive prints after Raphael. Around 1515–16 he was working in Rome and engaging closely with antiquity and the High Renaissance. A series of biblical scenes dates from this period, and this sheet belongs to it. In the Renaissance the victorious David was seen as an emblem of virtue and the triumph over evil.
Impact
The layout reads clearly and calmly, and the bodies are carefully modeled. The youthful victor and the massive head of the dead man face each other and generate a gripping tension. Fine lines and restrained grays give the sheet a noble graphic quality.
Technique
Etching and engraving are used together here, which allows precise lines and fine shading. The plate was probably worked in several stages: first etched with acid, then reworked with the burin. The paper size of 11.1 x 8 cm is unusually small and points to a careful, richly detailed execution.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)