King David Meets Abigail, Nicolas Vleughels (paris, 1668 - Rome, 1737)

Nicolas Vleughels (Paris, 1668 - Rome, 1737) attributable
King David meets Abigail

oil on canvas

79 x 59 cm
in frame 79 x 100 cm

Full details (click HERE)

The painting depicts the meeting between King David and Abigail, as recounted in the biblical text of the First Book of Samuel (I Samuel 25:1-34), and is a work attributable to Nicolas Vleughels (Paris, 1668 - Rome, 1737), a painter of Flemish origin who settled in France, where he studied with Pierre Mignard, and then in Rome, where he held the prestigious position of director of the Accademia di Belle Arti. - Rome, 1737), a painter of Flemish origin who settled in France, where he studied with Pierre Mignard, and then in Rome, where he held the prestigious position of director of the French Academy from 1724 for over a decade, thus becoming a key figure in the artistic exchange between France and Italy in the first third of the 18th century.

We know that he returned to this subject on several occasions during his career and, in particular, that he conceived this composition in the early 18th century. One of the versions on canvas is now in the collection of the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, made famous by Jeaurat Edme's engraving (Vermanton 1688 - Paris 1738), which reproduces the painting in reverse (https://catzarts.beauxartsparis.fr/r/b52dbf34-221e-43dc-acf5-ae3c5f65c93d )

In the centre on the left is the figure of King David who, left without food in the desert with his army, asked in vain for help from the rich shepherd Nabal, who contemptuously refused any help, ungrateful for the kindness he had previously received from the king and unleashing his wrath with the imminent promise of revenge.

On the right is Abigail, Nabal's beautiful and wise wife, who decided to make amends for the wrongdoing and bring David food and gifts in abundance. When she arrived before the king, she knelt before him in submission, winning his forgiveness and goodwill.

David, proud and haughty, shows clemency and is fascinated by the diplomatic skills, beauty and humility of this woman who, only a few days later, will accidentally become a widow and whom he will want to marry.

The biblical event is the pretext, as was customary in modern painting, for staging a colourful description of a sumptuous procession, which can be divided into two mirror-image parts: on the left, David with his dignitaries and army, and on the right, Abigail's procession, with maids and servants carrying baskets full of fruit, bread and wineskins, so that the king and his army could be satisfied.

The crowded group of figures is set in a charming natural proscenium: above a low horizon, barely hinted at by distant blue mountains, a steep cliff rises on the left with a building that we believe could be the city of Hebron (in Palestine, near Jerusalem), where David and Abigail will go to live after their marriage.



ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The work is sold complete with a pleasant frame and is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and a descriptive iconographic card.

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