David
2023 © Maxim Tabachnik
The EntombmentThe Rape of ProserpinaRoman Civilization and the Heroic Virtue of HonorThe Entombment (detail)Apollo and DaphneDavidThe Rape of ProserpinaThe Rape of ProserpinaBoy with a Basket of FruitTemple of AesculapiusMale Herm with Fruit BasketFountain of the Satyrs

DavidGian Lorenzo Bernini

442
This marble sculpture (1623–24) captures David in a twisting stance, body coiled as his hand grips the sling. Muscles, drapery, and focused gaze all align with the implied arc of the stone. Commissioned by Cardinal Scipione Borghese, it exemplifies Baroque interest in movement and psychological intensity, turning a biblical hero into a study of concentrated action.