David Playing the Harp before Saul
Lucas van Leyden · c. 1508 · Cleveland Museum of Art
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From the museum
A skillful player of the harp, David was summoned to the court of King Saul in order to console the king who was often tormented by melancholy. Lucas van Leyden masterfully captured the despair of the king who sits uncomfortably upon his throne, his right foot angled convulsively over the left one, his gaze a blank stare. While playing, David looks calmly upon the ruler, as if to convey his confidence that music will provide the necessary balm to soothe the king’s soul.
The museum’s own description, in English. Licence: CC0
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Details
- Maker
- Lucas van Leyden (Netherlandish, 1494–about 1533)
- Date
- c. 1508
- Medium
- engraving
- Place of origin
- Netherlands
- Held by
- Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland · On view · 115 Manuscripts & Textiles
- Credit line
- Gift of Ralph King
Image: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0
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Shown in
- Roots of Divinity: Christ’s Family Tree in Northern European Medieval ArtSep 6, 2026 – Aug 8, 2027
- Themes and Variations: Musical Drawings and PrintsJan 25, 2015 – May 17, 2015
- Eight Masters of the PrintOct 14, 1980 – Jan 18, 1981
- The Print Club of Cleveland, 1919 - 1969: Fifty Years in ReviewJan 14, 1970 – Mar 31, 1970
- Prints by Lucas Van Leyden and His ContemporariesFeb 28, 1939 – Apr 2, 1939
