Who painted David's Dying Charge to Solomon?

Ferdinand Bol painted David's Dying Charge to Solomon in 1643.

What Bible passage does David's Dying Charge to Solomon depict?

David's Dying Charge to Solomon depicts the biblical scene from 1 Chronicles 28.

Where is David's Dying Charge to Solomon located?

David's Dying Charge to Solomon is housed at National Gallery of Ireland, Merrion Square, Dublin.

David's Dying Charge to Solomon by Ferdinand Bol

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This large painting represents David, old and dying, in his bed. Holding his scepter in his left hand, it is the moment he names his son Solomon King of Israel. He did so in accordance with a promise he made to his lover Bathsheba, who watches the two men from the side. Both David and Solomon were renowned for their wisdom and seen as Old Testament prototypes of Christ, despite the illicit union that had brought about Solomon’s birth.

Born in Dordrecht, Bol moved to Amsterdam in 1637, where he trained with Rembrandt. Having set up his own studio in the early 1640s, Bol continued to work in the style of his teacher, as confirmed by David’s Dying Charge to Solomon. He based the composition of the painting, and its large bed, on Rembrandt’s famous Danae, now in the Hermitage, St Petersburg. Bol’s painting was the first Dutch work of art acquired by the National Gallery of Ireland, having been deposited by the Lord Lieutenant with the Irish Institution, which had been established in 1853 to raise funds and donations of pictures for a future National Gallery.

This painting represents the moment when David, old and dying, names his son Solomon King of Israel in accordance with a promise he made to his lover Bathsheba, who watches the two men from the side. Bol trained with Rembrandt in Amsterdam during the late 1630s-early 1640s and continued to work in the style of his teacher for several years. He based the composition of this painting on Rembrandt’s famous Danaë, now in the Hermitage, Saint Petersburg. Bol’s painting was the first Dutch work of art acquired by the National Gallery of Ireland.

Details

Artist: Ferdinand Bol
Created: 1643
Medium: oil on canvas
Dimension: 230cm × 171cm
Passage: 1 Chronicles 28
Housed at: National Gallery of Ireland Merrion Square, Dublin

Found in: 1 Chronicles, 1 Chronicles 28, 17th century, David, Solomon

1 Chronicles 28

1 David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, the captains of the companies who served the king by division, the captains of thousands, the captains of hundreds, and the rulers over all the substance and possessions of the king and of his sons, with the officers and the mighty men, even all the mighty men of valor, to Jerusalem.

2 Then David the king stood up on his feet, and said, “Hear me, my brothers, and my people! As for me, it was in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of Yahweh’s covenant, and for the footstool of our God; and I had prepared for the building.

3 But God said to me, ‘You shall not build a house for my name, because you are a man of war, and have shed blood.’

4 However Yahweh, the God of Israel, chose me out of all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever. For he has chosen Judah to be prince; and in the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel.

5 Of all my sons (for Yahweh has given me many sons), he has chosen Solomon my son to sit on the throne of Yahweh’s kingdom over Israel.

6 He said to me, ‘Solomon, your son, shall build my house and my courts; for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.

7 I will establish his kingdom forever if he continues to do my commandments and my ordinances, as it is today.’

8 Now therefore, in the sight of all Israel, Yahweh’s assembly, and in the audience of our God, observe and seek out all the commandments of Yahweh your God; that you may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children after you forever.

9 You, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind; for Yahweh searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.

10 Take heed now; for Yahweh has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary. Be strong, and do it.”

11 Then David gave to Solomon his son the plans for the porch of the temple, for its houses, for its treasuries, for its upper rooms, for its inner rooms, for the place of the mercy seat;

12 and the plans of all that he had by the Spirit, for the courts of Yahweh’s house, for all the surrounding rooms, for the treasuries of God’s house, and for the treasuries of the dedicated things;

13 also for the divisions of the priests and the Levites, for all the work of the service of Yahweh’s house, and for all the vessels of service in Yahweh’s house;

14 of gold by weight for the gold, for all vessels of every kind of service; for all the vessels of silver by weight, for all vessels of every kind of service;

15 by weight also for the lamp stands of gold, and for its lamps, of gold, by weight for every lamp stand and for its lamps; and for the lamp stands of silver, by weight for every lamp stand and for its lamps, according to the use of every lamp stand;

16 and the gold by weight for the tables of show bread, for every table; and silver for the tables of silver;

17 and the forks, the basins, and the cups, of pure gold; and for the golden bowls by weight for every bowl; and for the silver bowls by weight for every bowl;

18 and for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the plans for the chariot, and the cherubim that spread out and cover the ark of Yahweh’s covenant.

19 “All this”, said David, “I have been made to understand in writing from Yahweh’s hand, even all the works of this pattern.”

20 David said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do it. Don’t be afraid, nor be dismayed; for Yahweh God, even my God, is with you. He will not fail you, nor forsake you, until all the work for the service of Yahweh’s house is finished.

21 Behold, there are the divisions of the priests and the Levites, for all the service of God’s house. Every willing man who has skill, for any kind of service, shall be with you in all kinds of work. Also the captains and all the people will be entirely at your command.”

1 Chronicles 28 · World English Bible

The artist

Ferdinand Bol

1616 - 1680

Dordrecht

Ferdinand Bol was the son of a surgeon, Balthasar Bol, and was first an apprentice of Jacob Cuyp in his hometown and/or of Abraham Bloemaert in Utrecht. After 1630 he studied with Rembrandt, living in his house in Sint Antoniesbreestraat, then a fashionable street and area for painters, jewellers, architects, and many Flemish and Jewish immigrants. In 1641 Bol started his own studio.