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King David plays the Harp,
Painted by Gerard van Honthorst (1592-1656)
Painted in 1622,
Oil on canvas
© Centraal Museum, Utrecht |
At that time while teaching in the Temple, Jesus said, ‘How can the scribes maintain that the Christ is the son of David? David himself, moved by the Holy Spirit, said:
The Lord said to my Lord:
Sit at my right hand
and I will put your enemies
under your feet.
David himself calls him Lord, in what way then can he be his son?’ And the great majority of the people heard this with delight. |
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| Reflection on the Painting
King David was known to be a poet and accomplished musician. As he wrote many of the Psalms (such as Psalm 110 which Jesus quotes from in today’s Gospel reading), we have a good insight into his life. The rich relationship between God and His people comes beautifully to the fore in his Psalms. In art, as David was a musician, he is usually depicted holding a harp, and a crown to signify his royalty. Before the Middle Ages, when looking at early manuscripts, this regal aspect would usually be depicted by David standing under an imperial arch or sitting on a throne. As King David is a multifaceted and complex character, throughout art history his depictions are equally varied, showing him as a shepherd, victor, musician, ruler, king…
I am sharing with you a rather traditional image of David, and one I personally always seem to go back to when thinking of David. He is seen holding the harp, and looking towards God as he is playing his music or composing a psalm. There is gentleness in the touch of his fingers on the harp’s strings. The woven linen head band reminds us that he was a shepherd boy when he was chosen to follow in Saul’s footsteps. Mainly the slightly opened mouth is striking. It is a mouth of wonder, a mouth of awe, a mouth of composing rather than singing. He expresses delight… just as the audience in today’s Gospel reading delight in listening to Jesus…
by Patrick van der Vorst |  | |
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