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Original fileDavid wordt door Samuël gezalfd
About This Work
The young David kneels in the center of the composition, hands clasped in prayer, while the elder Samuel pours holy oil over his head from a ceremonial vessel. David's father and brothers stand around them within a classical vaulted interior, their gestures expressing surprise and contemplation at the divine selection. The print is framed with extensive Latin inscriptions detailing David's role as a prophet and the author of the Psalms.
David represents the archetype of the 'Vates' (Prophet-Poet) and the divinely inspired ruler, a central figure in Renaissance Neoplatonic theories of celestial music and sacred kingship. This print emphasizes David's 'patience' and spiritual exercise, reflecting the Stoic-Christian synthesis common in the intellectual circles of the late 16th century.
Inscriptions(Latin)
Martin De vos figur. Sadler auctor et excu PALÆSTRA PATIENTIÆ DAVIDIS REGIS ET PROPHETÆ IN ISRAEL: FONS ET SCATVRIGO PSALTERII, In quo se ad preces DEO fundendas ad Spem corroborandam, Gratesq. pro beneficijs agendas, Vates ille Regius et Sancto plenus Spiritu magnanimiter exercuit Rex hominum Diuumq. pater, qui sceptra tuetur, Transtulit imperium Saule superbe tuum Quiq. suos inter fratres sine honore putatur, Dauides, Iudæ sceptra regenda capit. i. Sam. 16 Inueni Dauid seruum meum, oleo sancto meo unxi eum. psal. 88. Cãtabo et psalmum dicam Domino. ps. 56
Translation
Martin de Vos designed it. Sadeler authored and published it. THE PALÆSTRA OF THE PATIENCE OF DAVID, KING AND PROPHET IN ISRAEL: THE FOUNTAIN AND SOURCE OF THE PSALTER, In which that Royal Seer, filled with the Holy Spirit, magnanimously exercised himself in pouring out prayers to GOD, in strengthening his Hope, and in rendering Thanks for benefits received. King and father of men and gods, who guards the scepters, Has transferred, proud Saul, your empire. He who among his brothers is held in no honor, David, takes up the scepters of Judah to be ruled. I Sam. 16 I have found David my servant, with my holy oil I have anointed him. Ps. 88 I will sing and I will sing a psalm to the Lord. Ps. 56
Connected Texts
Marsilio Ficino
Ficino’s theories on the 'furor poeticus' often cited King David as the primary example of a human moved by divine musical and prophetic inspiration.
Provenance & Source
Object
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
paper
height 197 mm x width 265 mm
religious
Linked Data
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