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Koning David leert van de dood van Absalom
1580
paper
height 204 mm x width 257 mm
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
About This Work
King David stands at the center of the scene, wringing his hands in grief as a messenger kneels before him to deliver news of the battle. In the far left background, a smaller scene shows Absalom hanging from an oak tree and being pierced by soldiers. The foreground is populated by attendants and soldiers in classical armor set against the architecture of a fortified city gate.
Inscriptions(Latin)
Absolon ut liquit transfixus ab arbore lucem, In lacrimas genitor triste solutus, ait, O mihi si liceat tua funera Nate pacisci, Pro te Nate mori, quam mihi dulce foret Domine exaudi orationem meam. Et ne intres in Iudicium cum seruo tuo: quia non iustificabitur &c. 2. Sam. 18. Martm de vos figur Ioann Sadl auctor et excudit
Translation
As Absalom, pierced by the tree, left the light, His father, sadly dissolved in tears, says, "O my son, if it were permitted to bargain for your funeral, To die for you, my son, how sweet it would be!" O Lord, hear my prayer. And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified, &c. 2 Sam. 18. Marten de Vos designed Jan Sadeler authorized [it] and printed [it]
Collections
Provenance & Source
Object
Holding Institution
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
Medium
paper
Dimensions
height 204 mm x width 257 mm
GenreAI
religious
Linked Data
AI AI-cataloged fields generated by gemini-3-flash-preview on April 2, 2026. Getty identifiers are AI-inferred and may require verification.