17th Century. Portrait Of A Child As The Triumphant David

King David, the universally known hero of the Old Testament, has been depicted by artists since the Renaissance as a symbol of courage and intelligence—cardinal values of a man in power. 
This heroic image is surprisingly depicted by a small child, which leads me to believe that this is a portrait of a young prince, symbolically represented as a triumphant David—a portrait that embodies the values this apprentice ruler must cultivate. 
With one bare shoulder, the other covered by a white shirt and a blue cloak, wearing a red feathered hat inherited from the swordsmen, and proudly carrying his unsheathed sword over his shoulder, he looks us straight in the eye. 
He is also set within a frame that appears to be original—an Italian frame from the same period, the 17th century. 
This frame is in its original mounting, never recut, with its worn gilding; the only thing missing is the original hanging hook, the indentation for which is visible in the wood. 
This portrait was clearly mounted in the 19th century onto a good-quality mahogany panel.
The canvas is visible through the small areas where the paint is missing.
The painting requires restoration; it shows slight lifting and small areas where paint is missing. 
Presenting it this way allows the buyer to see that the original condition does not conceal any major problems or extensive repainting.
The subject matter is very rare for a portrait and is, moreover, endearing and beautifully painted.