David with the head of Goliath

ca. 1690-1700 · Relief · 14.5 × 10.8 cm

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Not on view at present

Where is “David with the head of Goliath” now? Collection: Victoria and Albert Museum, London. Not on view at present. Checked September 25, 2026.

Victoria and Albert Museum

London, United Kingdom

It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.

Checked: 17 days ago
In this state since: Sep 25, 2026
Source: The museum

On the map Museum page

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About the sculpture

This ivory relief is made in the Netherlands by an unknown artist from the circle of Francis van Bossuit in ca. 1690-1700. It is the pendent relief to a relief representing Judith with the Head of Holofernes.The composition is taken, apparently, in reverse and with variations, from a picture by Domenico Fetti (1589-1624) of which there are versions at Dresden, Hampton Court, and elsewhere. In the Dresden picture the head of David is turned towards the spectator and there are differences in the dress. The picture by Fetti was perhaps used as a source through the medium of an engraving, as yet untraced. Francis van Bossuit carved a number of reliefs of this subject, which often form male pendants to those of Judith with the Head of Holofernes.

Victoria and Albert Museum