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Original fileDavid krijgt een wapenuitrusting / David en Goliat / David toont het hoofd van Goliat aan Saul / David en Jonatan
About This Work
Four rectangular panels are arranged in a grid, each featuring a Latin title and a four-line verse. The scenes illustrate the narrative arc from 1 Samuel, showing David transitioning from a humble shepherd rejecting heavy armor to a victorious warrior and beloved companion of Prince Jonathan. The figures are rendered in a muscular, Mannerist style with dense cross-hatching and dramatic landscape backgrounds.
Aegidius Sadeler was the principal engraver at the court of Emperor Rudolf II in Prague, a major center for Renaissance hermeticism and natural philosophy. These prints frame the story of David not just as religious history, but as a series of moral 'triumphs' (Faith, Piety, Friendship) that align with the humanist and Stoic interests prevalent in the Rudolfine intellectual circle.
Inscriptions(Latin)
5. EXPEDITIO MVNITISSIMA. Nuda fides ut monstra domet, non indiget armis; Arteis humani damnat et ingenij. Difficilesq, subit casus, atque ardua tentat Tecta, uno studio praesidioque Dei. 6. FIDEI VICTORIA. Mole graui et subito casu magnis ruit ausis Vis expers sensus consilijque pij. Hanc victrix pietas sternit, trahitq, triumpho, Non iactare minas docta, sed efficere. 7. PIETATIS TRIVMPHVS. Inuisae superis vires animique minaces Scilicet ausa ferox orsa mouere nefas. Monstrum horrendum ingens iuuenis Virtute modesti Concidit, expedit hoc milite bella Deus. 8. HVMANAR. OPVM PRAESTANTISSIMA. Virtus vera bonos equat, sanctoq, ligatos Coniungit certe foedere amicitie. Participesq, facit vite sociosque laborum Communi tutos viuere consilio.
Translation
5. THE MOST FORTIFIED EXPEDITION. Naked faith, to tame monsters, needs no arms; It condemns the arts of human wit. It undergoes difficult chances, and attempts arduous Roof-tops, with the one zeal and protection of God. 6. THE VICTORY OF FAITH. By heavy mass and sudden chance, with great daring, falls The force that lacks sense and pious counsel. Victorious piety lays this low, and draws it in triumph, Taught not to boast of threats, but to accomplish. 7. THE TRIUMPH OF PIETY. Powers hated by the gods and menacing spirits, Forsooth, in fierce daring moved to commit wickedness. A huge, horrendous monster the youth of modest Virtue Cuts down; God settles wars by this soldier. 8. THE MOST EXCELLENT OF HUMAN WEALTH. True virtue makes the good equal, and binds those joined By the holy covenant of friendship. It makes them participants of life and partners of labors, Safe to live by common counsel.
Connected Texts
Rudolf II of Habsburg
Sadeler was the court engraver to Rudolf II, and his work represents the sophisticated visual culture of the Prague court where alchemy and Neoplatonism flourished.
Collections
Provenance & Source
Object
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
paper
height 106 mm x width 137 mm x height 106 mm x width 136 mm x height 107 mm x width 137 mm x height 107 mm x width 137 mm
religious
Linked Data
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