Knielende David 1571 - 1632

Antoni van Leest created this print of ‘Kneeling David’ in the late 16th century, amidst the religious and political upheavals of the Dutch Reformation. The image shows David, a figure of power, on his knees, stripped of his royal accoutrements, as an angel looms, carrying a sword and skull. David’s repentance is a powerful expression of contrition. The sword symbolizes divine justice, while the skull represents mortality and the consequences of sin. David was a figure who embodied both masculine ideals and religious piety, and this image serves to humanize him. The opulence of the setting—the palace and well-dressed figures in the background—suggests the earthly power David risks losing. Yet, by kneeling, David claims a different kind of power, one rooted in humility and faith. The image is thus a meditation on power, sin, and redemption, inviting reflection on the relationship between earthly authority and spiritual devotion.