Who painted David and Bathsheba?

David and Bathsheba was painted by Virgil Solis in 1545.

Where can I see David and Bathsheba?

David and Bathsheba is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is David and Bathsheba?

David and Bathsheba is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

David and Bathsheba

Virgil Solis , 1545

David and Bathsheba is an ink drawing by the Renaissance artist Virgil Solis. It dates from 1545 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1545, this drawing by German artist Virgil Solis portrays the biblical episode in which King David watches Bathsheba while she bathes. Executed with pen, black ink and a gray wash on laid paper, the work reflects Solis’s activity in Nuremberg, where he worked within a family noted for its extensive artistic production.

Subject & Meaning

The composition captures a moment from the Old Testament narrative, focusing on the voyeuristic gaze of King David as he observes Bathsheba’s private ritual. This theme, recurrent in Renaissance and Northern European visual culture, underscores moral and political tensions surrounding power, desire, and the consequences of transgression.

Technique & Style

Solis employs fine pen lines to delineate figures and architectural elements, while a subtle gray wash adds depth and tonal variation to the scene. The use of laid paper provides a textured surface that enhances the contrast between the stark ink and the softer wash, characteristic of mid‑sixteenth‑century German draughtsmanship.

History & Provenance

The drawing originates from Solis’s workshop in Nuremberg, a city that served as a hub for printmakers and draughtsmen during the period. Though specific ownership records are limited, the work has been documented in collections of German Renaissance drawings, reflecting the artist’s reputation for prolific output across multiple media.

Artist & collection

Artist

Virgil Solis

Virgil Solis or Virgilius Solis (1514 – 1 August 1562), a member of a prolific family of artists, was a German draughtsman and printmaker in engraving, etching and woodcut who worked in his native city of Nuremberg.