Meeting between David and Abigail
Joachim Wtewael
1597
Medium
oil on canvas
Dimensions
131; 99; 9.5
About this artwork
oil on canvas
Art Historical Context
**Meeting between David and Abigail** (1597) by Joachimtewael captures a pivotal biblical moment from the First Book of Samuel. Here, the wise and beautiful Abigail humbly approaches David with gifts of food and wine, averting his wrath against her foolish husband, Nabal. Painted in oil on canvas—a medium prized in the late 16th century for versatility in layering glazes to achieve luminous depth and jewel-like color—this work measures approximately 99 x 131 cm, making it an imposing presence for visitors. Wtewael, a leading Dutch Mannerist from Haarlem and Utrecht, infused the scene with his...