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David Carrying the Head of Goliath

1630s
Giuseppe Caletti (il Cremonese) (Italian, c. 1600–c. 1660)
Human resourcefulness triumphs over adversity in this etching by Caletti. Barely tall enough to carry the head and sword of Goliath, the powerful giant he has just slain, David resolutely marches home with his oversized spoils of war. Caletti rendered his scene of the stocky youth using slight, feathery lines and tiny dots to create an overall luminosity. As seen here in the background, landscapes and walled cities with medieval towers are common features in Caletti’s etchings.

Object Details

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