Uria door David teruggeroepen uit de oorlog 1579 - 1585

This engraving by Johann Sadeler the first, made around 1600, depicts King David summoning Uriah back from war. The image brings up questions about the relationship between power and morality. Made in the Netherlands during a time of religious and political upheaval, the scene is charged with the tensions of the time. The figures are presented in a classical style, yet the narrative pulls from the Old Testament. Uriah is shown kneeling before King David, a subordinate relationship that highlights the hierarchical structure of the society. It is an order that is being disrupted by David's actions; he has recalled Uriah from war to conceal the pregnancy of Bathsheba, Uriah's wife, after David slept with her. Historical documents, theological texts, and art from the period would all serve as resources to deepen our understanding of the complex interplay between morality, power, and social order at play in this engraving.