The Triumph of David
1657–1747
Medium
Black chalk (recto); design for a door or window frame (verso)
Dimensions
6 3/8 x 8 3/4in. (16.2 x 22.2cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Harry G. Sperling Fund, 1976
Accession Number
1976.236
Tags
Art Historical Context
Francesco Solimena (1657–1747), one of the most influential painters of the late Baroque period in Naples, created this dynamic black-chalk drawing as a study for a larger composition. The subject depicts the biblical triumph of David, celebrating the young hero’s victory over Goliath. Rendered with fluid lines and energetic movement, the scene likely includes armed figures, horses, and the triumphant central character, capturing the dramatic energy typical of Solimena’s grand narrative works. Measuring just 6 3/8 by 8 3/4 inches, the drawing reveals the artist’s working process; the verso sh...
About the Artist
Francesco Solimena · 1657–1747
Comment on works: History; Religious