Lot Essay
Rembrandt turned to the Bible as a source of inspiration throughout his career, but particularly during the 1650s. He demonstrated a remarkable empathy for the human condition whichever scene he was illustrating. In the present etching Rembrandt uses his characteristic theatricality to portray David, identified only by the harp lying on the ground, kneeling before his bed in prayer, completely given over to God. The subject is generally taken to be David praying for the life of his mortally ill son, Samuel.