Triumph of David and Saul Hurls His Spear at David, Mortier Bible circa 1700

This original copper engraving from Pieter Mortier's illustrated Bible, published in Amsterdam circa 1700, shows two Old Testament scenes on one sheet. The subjects are 1 Samuel 18, the triumph of David after the death of Goliath, and 1 Samuel 19, Saul hurls his spear at David. It is plate 80 of the series, a fine example of Dutch Baroque biblical engraving with the upper and lower compositions each set in its own engraved frame.

The upper scene illustrates 1 Samuel chapter 18, verses 6 to 8, the triumph of David after his victory over Goliath, when the women come out of the cities of Israel singing and dancing that Saul has slain his thousands and David his ten thousands, and the jealousy of Saul is first kindled.

The lower scene takes 1 Samuel chapter 19, verses 9 and 10, in which an evil spirit comes upon Saul as David plays the harp before him, and the king hurls his spear at David, who slips away as it strikes the wall.

Pieter Mortier's Bible, issued in Amsterdam circa 1700, is one of the finest illustrated Bibles of the Baroque period. Its plates, with more than four hundred scenes, follow the sacred narrative from Genesis onwards, two scenes to a sheet, each captioned in Dutch and French beneath the chapter and verse. The plate is signed O. Elliger inv. at lower left for the designer Ottmar Elliger, with the imprint P. Mortier edit. cum Privil. Leading Dutch artists such as Gerard Hoet, Arnold Houbraken and Bernard Picart supplied designs, and the plates were worked with a dense, velvety burin that gives the scenes their dramatic light and depth, the qualities that make Mortier sheets so sought after today.

The engraving is printed on laid paper with full margins and a blank verso, and is uncolored, as issued. It rewards close viewing and is well suited to a study, library or quiet corner, either alone or hung as part of a series of Mortier Bible engravings, which together give a vivid sense of how the Dutch Baroque imagined the biblical world.

The sheet is in good condition for its age, with light toning, chips and small losses along the frayed right edge and a few marginal spots; the engraved image is clean.