The Triumph of David
Medium
pen and brown ink over graphite on wove paper
Dimensions
sheet: 22.6 x 27.1 cm (8 7/8 x 10 11/16 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund
Accession Number
1996.26.1
Art Historical Context
Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld’s *The Triumph of David* (1826) captures a pivotal biblical moment with quiet drama. The drawing shows the young hero returning from battle, likely bearing Goliath’s head, as onlookers celebrate his victory. Created during the artist’s time in Rome, the work reflects his deep engagement with religious narrative and his desire to revive the moral clarity of early Renaissance art. Schnorr belonged to the Nazarene movement, a circle of German artists who rejected neoclassical polish in favor of precise line, luminous detail, and spiritual sincerity inspired by Dürer...
About the Artist
Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld · 1794–1872
German, Leipzig 1794–1872 Dresden