Artwork
David's first victory
David's first victory is an oil painting by William Strutt. It dates from 1868 and is held in the collection of the Art Gallery of New South Wales.
About this work
Overview
William Strutt’s 1868 oil painting *David’s First Victory* depicts a youthful figure triumphing over a fallen lion. The composition places the victorious youth centrally, his white tunic and red sash contrasting with the dark animal beneath him, while a distant landscape of hills and water recedes behind. The work is part of the Art Gallery of New South Wales collection.
Subject & Meaning
The scene references the biblical David’s early triumph, substituting the traditional slaying of Goliath with a symbolic defeat of a lion. The young man’s raised right hand and the lamb cradled in his left arm suggest both martial success and protective guardianship, merging themes of courage, innocence and divine favor.
Technique & Style
Strutt employs a polished academic approach learned in Paris, rendering the figures with precise anatomical detail and smooth brushwork. The luminous handling of the white tunic against the darker background creates a focal point, while the atmospheric perspective of the hills and water adds depth, characteristic of mid‑nineteenth‑century history painting.
History & Provenance
Born into an English artistic family, Strutt studied under Michel Martin Drolling and at the École des Beaux‑Arts before returning to Britain. *David’s First Victory* entered the Art Gallery of New South Wales’ holdings in the early twentieth century, where it remains on display as an example of his narrative oeuvre.
Artist & collection
Artist
William Strutt (3 July 1825 – 3 January 1915) was an English artist. Strutt was born in Teignmouth, Devon, England, and came from a family of artists. His grandfather, Joseph Strutt, was a well-known author and artist,…
