Saul Attacking David

In 1644 the newly elected pope, Innocent X, sent a Florentine cardinal, Lelio Falconieri, to govern Bologna as his legate, and in 1646 Falconieri ordered this canvas from Guercino, by then working in the city. The story comes from the First Book of Samuel. Young David, already a hero for his victories and loved by the people, has been brought in to play the harp and ease King Saul's black moods. Saul, eaten up with jealousy, snatches up a spear and hurls it at him. Guercino sets the moment out like a scene on a stage, with large, clear gestures and every surface sharply described, so the whole outburst can be read at a glance. The museum thinks the cardinal chose the subject himself, a warning about how jealousy and envy turn into rage. It had a companion piece, Samson revealing to Delilah that his strength lies in his hair, now in a private collection in California. The picture later reached the Quirinal, the papal palace on the hill of that name, where it was recorded in 1787, and in 1915 the royal household gave it to the national gallery.