Lucas van LeydenDutch, 1494–1533David Playing the Harp Before Saul
Can I see it?
Not on view at present
Where is “David Playing the Harp Before Saul” now? Collection: Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago. Not on view at present. Checked October 12, 2026.
Chicago, United States
It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.
- Checked
- In this state since
- Source
- The museum
About the work
According to the Book of Samuel, an “evil spirit from the Lord” plagued King Saul, making him agitated and fearful of persecution. Because music was thought to have a therapeutic effect, the king summoned the hero and warrior David, who was renowned for his skill with the harp. In this scene of intense psychological drama, David tries to soothe the troubled king. Lucas van Leyden reveals Saul’s fragile mental state by portraying him sitting stiffly hunched in a chair, tightly clenching a spear in one fist and arching his right foot over his left. David’s pleasing performances would eventually lead to him succeeding Saul as the king of Israel.
Art Institute of ChicagoCC BY 4.0
Details
- Accession number
- 1887.344
In the catalog
Sources
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Image: Art Institute of Chicago — CC0
