The artwork, titled “Bathsheba reminds David of his promise to appoint their son Solomon as king of Israel after him (I Kings, I, 15-20)” was created by Marc Chagall in 1956 in France. This piece is an etching on paper and belongs to the Naïve Art (Primitivism) movement. Measuring 33.1 x 26 cm, it is categorized as a religious painting and is part of the series “Etchings for the Bible (1930-1939; 1952-1956).”
In the artwork, Marc Chagall vividly depicts the biblical scene wherein Bathsheba approaches King David to remind him of his promise to make their son Solomon the next king of Israel. Bathsheba is depicted kneeling before David, her hands clasped in a gesture of supplication. King David, adorned in regal attire and seated upon an ornate throne, listens intently. The etching captures the profound moment with Chagall’s characteristic expressive lines and the emotional depth of both characters. The overall composition, enriched with intricate details such as David’s elaborate robe and the textured floor, highlights the significance of the encounter, reinforcing its profound religious and cultural resonance.
