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Original fileSimi vervloekt koning David
About This Work
King David stands in the center wearing a crown and simple robes, gesturing for his soldiers to restrain themselves as Shimei shouts and hurls rocks from the left. A soldier in elaborate Mannerist armor reaches for his sword to defend the king, while the city walls of Jerusalem and a distant tower rise in the background. The composition emphasizes David's calm submission to divine will amidst the chaos of his retreat.
This print is a product of the Sadeler workshop, which served as the primary visual engine for the Imperial Court of Rudolf II in Prague, a major center for late Renaissance alchemy and Hermeticism. While the subject is biblical, the stylistic precision and the focus on the internal 'stoic' state of the King reflect the moral and philosophical interests of the Rudolfine circle.
Inscriptions(Latin)
Martin de vos figurau Ioann Sadl aut et excu Dauides Semeum conuitia dira vomentem, Cumq. minis lapides, sustinet, indomitos. At nunc et Nati telis petor, inquit, et istis, Quae Deus in melius cum volet, ipse feret. Noli æmulari in malignantibus, neq. Zelaueris facientes iniquitatem. Subditus esto Domino et ora eum. psal.
Translation
Martin de Vos depicted it, Jan Sadeler engraved and published it. David endures Shimei vomiting dire insults, And with threats, he endures the untamed stones. But now, he says, I am attacked by the weapons of my son, and by these, Which God, when He wills, will turn to the better, He Himself will bear. Do not emulate the wicked, nor Envy those who do iniquity. Be subject to the Lord and pray to Him. Psalm.
Provenance & Source
Object
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
paper
height 212 mm x width 253 mm
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.