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David Spares Saul's Life / David Pursues the Amalekites / Three Heroes Bring Water / Report of Saul's Death
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David Spares Saul's Life / David Pursues the Amalekites / Three Heroes Bring Water / Report of Saul's Death

Johann Sadeler (I) · 1575 · engraving; paper

From the collection of Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.

About this work

Four scenes on an album leaf depicting the life of David, numbered twenty-one to twenty-four. At the top left, David steals the spear and water jug from the sleeping Saul to show that he could have killed Saul but spared his life. At the top right, David pursues the Amalekites for plundering the city of Ziklag and recovers all the captured women and goods. At the bottom left, three heroes bring David water from the well of Bethlehem. At the bottom right, David tears his clothes because of the death of Saul. A messenger brings Saul's crown and armlet. One of David's soldiers raises his sword to kill the messenger. Each scene has a Latin inscription and four lines of Latin in the lower margin. The leaf is part of an album.

Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam’s own description
Credit lineDavid spaart het leven van Saul / David vervolgt de Amalekieten / Drie helden brengen water / Bericht over de dood van Saul. 1575. Johann Sadeler (I). Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Public domain.

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