David
Painting on canvas • Sir Frederic Leighton (Lord Leighton)
Style & Movement
Academicism / Victorian Neoclassicism. The work bridges Late Romanticism with Victorian Classicism, emphasizing monumental figures and psychological depth.
Medium & Technique
Oil and gold leaf on canvas. Techniques include sfumato for the hazy mountains, impasto in the highlights of the clouds, and fine detailing on the textile patterns and jewelry.
Creation Period
1888
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 96.5 x 121.9 cm (38 x 48 inches). Landscape format.
Subject Description
King David sits on his palace roof in Jerusalem, characterized by his gold-hooped earring and crown discarded on the floor. He gazes longingly at the distant mountains of Moab under a dramatic sky. The composition illustrates the Psalm 55:6 verse: 'Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.'
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Very Good. The paint film appears stable, though there is characteristic fine craquelure visible in the lighter areas of the sky and the white marble balustrade.
Estimated Market Value
$500,000 - $800,000 USD, given Leighton's status as a pre-eminent Victorian Academician.
Auction Estimate
$400,000 - $600,000 USD
Provenance History
Commissioned or first owned by J.S. Hodgson; later in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art (gift of Mrs. Henry White Cannon, 1943).
Art Historical Significance
A major work from Leighton's late career. It represents the psychological 'interiority' of the Victorian era, portraying a biblical hero not in a moment of triumph, but in one of weary, human vulnerability and spiritual longing. It demonstrates the artist's incredible mastery of drapery and landscape.
Notable Features
The use of gold leaf in the sky suggests the divine or the 'Golden Hour' in a literal and metaphorical sense. The discarded crown on the floor serves as a powerful symbol of the heaviness of earthly power versus the lightness of spiritual freedom (the dove in the sky).
Condition Issues
Slight yellowing of the varnish layer; minor surface grime; faint craquelure consistent with age; possible minor abrasion near the edges from the frame.
Conservation Recommendations
Surface cleaning of grime; light varnish refresh if yellowing obscures the cool tones of the mountains; climate-controlled environment (50% RH); UV-filtered glazing for display.