David and Goliath

17th century

On View

British Decorative Arts, Level 3, South Wing

David and Goliath: 1 of Collection Gallery

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About the Artwork

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Markings

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Provenance

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Exhibition History

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Published References

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Catalogue Raisonné

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Credit Line for Reproduction

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About the Artwork

This intricate wax relief depicts David, a hero of the Jewish Bible, with the head of his foe, Goliath. An inscription in the red German text interprets the scene. It declares in rhyming verse, “Here behold a wondrous thing. A shepherd strikes the Giant / His sling has done what no spear has proven / The sword now yields to the staff: the bearded head of the braggart now lies on the ground / For it had to be subjected to his own sword.” Though the figure of David may appear delicate and courtly, the inscription presents the young shepherd and future king as a warrior. 

Beginning in the late 1500s, detailed wax reliefs captured the imaginations of collectors by evoking the material world. Here, refined wax mimics David’s youthful skin and fluttering cloak, Goliath’s tangled beard and bejeweled helmet, and the rustling leaves of a tree in which a squirrel nibbles fruit.

Title David and Goliath

Artwork Date 17th century

Artist ----------

Life Dates ----------

Nationality Please note: Definitions for nationality may vary significantly, depending on chronology and world events. Some definitions include: Belonging to a people having a common origin based on a geography and/or descent and/or tradition and/or culture and/or religion and/or language, or sharing membership in a legally defined nation. German

Culture Please note: Cultures may be defined by the language, customs, religious beliefs, social norms, and material traits of a group. ----------

Medium Colored wax

Dimensions Unframed: 11 13/16 × 8 7/16 inches (30 × 21.5 cm) Framed: approx. 18 x 14 x 2.5 inches

Classification Sculpture

Department European Sculpture and Dec Arts

Credit Museum Purchase, European Sculpture and Decorative Arts Deaccession Fund

Accession Number This unique number is assigned to an individual artwork as part of the cataloguing process at the time of entry into the permanent collection. Most frequently, accession numbers begin with the year in which the artwork entered the museum’s holdings. For example, 2008.3 refers to the year of acquisition and notes that it was the 3rd of that year. The DIA has a few additional systems—no longer assigned—that identify specific donors or museum patronage groups. 2020.5

Markings

Inscriptions Inscribed and colored in red wax at bottom: Hier söchet Wunderding. Ein Schäfer fällt den Rißen / Sein Schlingen hat gethan Waß noch kein Spieß erwißen / Den Stab weicht nun daß Schwert: daß volle praller Haupt ligt ierzundt zur Erde / Weil es mieß undterligen durch daß selbst eigne Schwerdt (Here behold a wonderous thing. A shepherd strikes the Giant/ His sling has done what no spear has proven/ The sword now yields to the staff: the bearded head of the braggart now lies on the ground/ For it had to be subjected to his own sword)

Provenance

until 1917, Dr. Köhler (Vienna, Austria);
January 30, 1917, sold by Köhler through (C. J. Wawra, Vienna, Austria).
by 2019, (Julius Böhler, Starnberg, Germany);
2020-present, purchase by the Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit, Michigan, USA)

For more information on provenance, please visit:

Provenance page

Exhibition History

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The exhibition history of a number of objects in our collection only begins after their acquisition by the museum, and may reflect an incomplete record.

We welcome your feedback for correction and/or improvement.

Suggest Feedback

Published References

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We regularly update our object record as new research and findings emerge, and we welcome your feedback for correction and/or improvement.

Suggest Feedback

Catalogue Raisoneé

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Credit Line for Reproduction

German, David and Goliath, 17th century, colored wax. Detroit Institute of Arts, Museum Purchase, European Sculpture and Decorative Arts Deaccession Fund, 2020.5.