Category Archives: B6 Kings

King Solomon

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Solomon was the the son of King David and Bathsheba.  2 Samuel 12:24.  He became king despite rebellion among his brothers.  1 Kings 3:16-28 tells us he was a wise judge.

 The Judgment of Solomon CLAEISSENS (ca. 1538-1613)

 See http://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?/html/c/claeisse/antoon/solomon.html for the source of the above photograph of the painting and a description.

The Judgment of Solomon BOULOGNE (c. 1620)

See http://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?/html/v/valentin/solomoa.html for the source of the above photograph of the painting and a description.

Solomon was so significant to the surrounding territories that the Queen of Sheba visited him to examine him and to determine if he was as wise as was his reputation.  He answered all her questions to  her satisfaction.  1 Kings 10:1-9

Solomon and the Queen of Sheba TINTORETTO (c. 1545)

See http://www.lib-art.com/artgallery/40105-solomon-and-the-queen-of-sheba-tintoretto.html for the source of the above photograph of the painting.

The church had some difficulty with the frankly sexual nature of the book attributed to Solomon, or the Song of Solomon.  The way it dealt with that was to transform it into an allegory of Christ and the Church, of which the illustrated manuscript below is an expression.  Jews, on the other hand, generally have no problem cellebrating life in all its wonder as a gift of God.

The Bride and Groom – Church and Christ UNKNOWN ILLUSTRATOR

See http://www.mnemosyne.org/mmw/fullsize/mmw_10b23_330v_min.jpg for the source of the above photograph of the illustrated manuscript.

Le Cantigue des Cantiques I CHAGALL

See http://www.musees-nationaux-alpesmaritimes.fr/pages/page_id18012_u1l2.htm for the source of the photograph of the above lithograph.

How Beautiful You Are and How Pleasing CHAGALL

See http://www.musees-nationaux-alpesmaritimes.fr/pages/page_id18020_u1l2.htm for the source of the above photograph of the lithograph.

Links to my site:

Introduction

https://bibleartists.wordpress.com/2013/07/14/introduction/

Graphic Arts

https://bibleartists.wordpress.com/2013/07/14/i-graphic-arts/

Architecture

https://bibleartists.wordpress.com/2013/07/14/ii-church-architecture-and-its-incorporation-of-art/

Music

https://bibleartists.wordpress.com/2013/07/14/iii-music/

Theology

https://bibleartists.wordpress.com/2013/07/14/iv-theology/

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King David

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A number of Psalms, but by no means all, are ascribed to David.  We know he played the lyer or the zither, he wrote songs of praise (2 Samuel 22) and danced to songs of praise (2 Samuel 6:16).

King David Playing the Zither CELESTI (1637-1712)

See http://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?/html/c/celesti/davidzit.html for the source of the above photograph of the painting and a brief description.

David and Bathesheba is a familiar story, although often simply romanticized.  To obtain her as his wife, David devises a plan to send her husband, his loyal officer in dedicated service to King David, into battle, to be abandoned by the other soldiers and killed by the enemy.  My mother points to stories like this, to take courage that if God can use ordinary people, or even great people with serious faults, to do God’s work, “then God can use me, also.”

David and Uriah REMBRANDT (1665)

See http://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?/html/r/rembran/painting/biblic3/david.html for the source of the above photograph of the painting and for a brief description and an alternate interpretation that it represents Haman recognizing his Fate.

David and Bathsheba CHAGALL (1956)

See http://www.marcchagallprints.com/view_art.php?art_id=238&min=0&max=10000000&portrait=&original=&sub=&sort_by=&sold= for a source of the above photograph of the lithograph.

David’s son, Absolom, kills David’s son, Amnon, who had tried, unsuccessfully, to seduce their sister, Tamar.  Absolom kills Amnon and flees.  David ultimately forgives Absolom.  2 Samuel 13.

David Pardoning Absolom BLAKE (1800-1803)

See http://www.cecilhigginsartgallery.org/paintings/blakeb2.htm for the source of the above photograph of the pen and watercolor over black lead on paper painting.

2 Samuel 15 tells us that ultimately, Absolom leads a rebellion against his father and David flees.  None the less, King David tells his soldiers not to lay a hand on Absolom.  2 Samuel 18:9 tells us that as Absolom is riding his mule, his long, beautiful hair is caught in a tree, the mule keeps going, and he hangs to death.

The Death of Absolom DORE (1832– 1883)

See http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/Gustave_dore_bibel_death_of_absalom.jpg for the source of the above photograph of the etching.

When David learns of Absolom’s death, he weeps bitterly.  “The king was shaken. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went, he said: ‘O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you—O Absalom, my son, my son!’”  William Billings, an early American composer, wrote a beautiful, mournful choral piece on that passage.

David Mourning Absolom CHAGALL (1956)

See http://www.spaightwoodgalleries.com/Pages/Chagall_56Bible_lithos2.html for the source of the above photograph of the lithograph.

King David BEAUNEVEU (late 14th Century)

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andr%C3%A9_Beauneveu for the source of the above photograph of the iluminated manuscript.

Links to my site:

Introduction https://bibleartists.wordpress.com/2013/07/14/introduction/

Graphic Arts https://bibleartists.wordpress.com/2013/07/14/i-graphic-arts/

Architecture https://bibleartists.wordpress.com/2013/07/14/ii-church-architecture-and-its-incorporation-of-art/

Music https://bibleartists.wordpress.com/2013/07/14/iii-music/

Theology https://bibleartists.wordpress.com/2013/07/14/iv-theology/

Home Page https://bibleartists.wordpress.com/

David, King Saul and Goliath

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1 Samuel 15 and 16 tells us that God rejects Saul, and Samuel annoints David as the next king of Israel, unknown to Saul.  “Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him.”  An attendant to King Saul suggests that lyre music may be able to calm him. David plays the lyre and he is brought to play for and to soothe the King. For a time that is effective.  1 Samuel 16:14-23.

Saul and David REMBRANDT 1665-60)

See http://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?/html/r/rembran/painting/biblic1/saul.html for the source of the above photograph of the painting and a description of it.

1 Samuel 17 tells us that the Philistines, who had dominated Israel for forty years, are encamped in opposition to the Israelite forces.  A giant among them, Goliath, comes out to the edge of the Philistine encampment and taunts the Israelites, challenging them to produce someone to fight him.  Having no giants among them, they are intimidated.  David, hearing of this challenge and seeing the fear that it raises among the Israelites, responds to the challenge, sling shot in hand.

David CARAVAGGIO (1571-1610)

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_and_Goliath_(Caravaggio) for the source of the above photograph of the painting and a description of it.

David with the Head of Goliath BERNINI (1625)

See http://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?/html/b/bernini/gianlore/painting/david.html for the source of the above photography of the painting and a description.

David before Saul CHAGALL (1931-39)

See http://www.spaightwoodgalleries.com/Pages/Chagall_Bible_etchings2.html for the source of the above photograph of the etching.

After David kills the giant nemesis, the people begin to dance and sing his praise: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.'”

This angers Saul and he seeks to kill David while David is playing the harp, intending to soothe him.

Saul Attacking David GUERCINO (1646)

See http://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?/html/g/guercino/1/saul_dav.html for the source of the above painting and a description.

Links to my site:

Introduction

https://bibleartists.wordpress.com/2013/07/14/introduction/

Graphic Arts

https://bibleartists.wordpress.com/2013/07/14/i-graphic-arts/

Architecture

https://bibleartists.wordpress.com/2013/07/14/ii-church-architecture-and-its-incorporation-of-art/

Music

https://bibleartists.wordpress.com/2013/07/14/iii-music/

Theology

https://bibleartists.wordpress.com/2013/07/14/iv-theology/

Home Page

https://bibleartists.wordpress.com/