Saul (사울)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bernardo Cavallino 1616 – 1656

Saul invokes the Ghost of Samuel

oil on copper (62 × 87 cm) — c. 1652

J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles

 

This work is linked to 1 Samuel 28:14

(삼상 28:14)

사울이 그에게 이르되 그의 모양이 어떠하냐 하니 그가 이르되 한 노인이 올라오는데 그가 겉옷을 입었나이다 하더라 사울이 그가 사무엘인 줄 알고 그의 얼굴을 땅에 대고 절하니라 삼상15:27

 

On the eve of an important battle against the Philistines, Saul, the first king of Israel, summons a witch to his tent. He needs advise like he used to receive from Samuel, who had passed away. Interesting detail is that Saul previously had all witches and magicians expelled from his country.

The witch of Endor makes the spirit of Samuel appear. Saul kneels before him. The ghost is angry for Saul disturbing his peace. He predicts a terrible defeat. The next day Israel loses the battle, and Saul and his sons die.

 

 

 

 

Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn 1606 – 1669

Saul and David (1655-1660)

oil on canvas (130 × 164 cm) — 1655 - 1660

Mauritshuis, The Hague

Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn biography

 

This work is linked to 1 Samuel 18:10

(삼상 18:10)

○그 이튿날 하나님께서 부리시는 악령이 사울에게 힘 있게 내리매 그가 집 안에서 정신 없이 떠들어대므로 다윗이 평일과 같이 손으로 수금을 타는데 그 때에 사울의 손에 창이 있는지라 삼상16:14, 삼상9:24, 삼상16:23

 

David has beaten the Philistines and is returning to the court of King Saul. The superstitious king considers David a threat to his already weakened position. We see him trying to think of a way to get rid of the young hero. At the same, he is moved by David's harp playing - Saul dries his eyes with a curtain.

The people would probably rise against him if he were to kill David. The spear in his hand is useless, although in a flash of anger he does try to kill David with it. So he promotes David to "captain over a thousand", hoping he will die in battle.

In Rembrandt's painting, the old suffering king is clearly touched by David's playing. David is completely absorbed in his music.

It is a much more melancholic and touching interpretation than his earlier rendition of the same episode, which Rembrandt created in 1630.

The attribution to Rembrandt was a point of discussion until it was confirmed by an international team of experts in 2015.

 

 

 

 

Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn 1606 – 1669

Saul and David (c. 1630)

oil on panel (62 × 50 cm) — c. 1630

  Städel Museum, Frankfurt am Main

Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn biography

 

This work is linked to 1 Samuel 18:10

(삼상 18:10)

○그 이튿날 하나님께서 부리시는 악령이 사울에게 힘 있게 내리매 그가 집 안에서 정신 없이 떠들어대므로 다윗이 평일과 같이 손으로 수금을 타는데 그 때에 사울의 손에 창이 있는지라 삼상16:14, 삼상9:24, 삼상16:23

 

 

Twenty years on, Rembrandt made another painting with David playing the harp before Saul.

 

 

 

 

Jacob van Oostsanen 1470 – 1533

Saul and the Witch of Endor

oil on panel (87 × 125 cm) — 1526

Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

Jacob van Oostsanen biography

 

This work is linked to 1 Samuel 28:14

(삼상 28:14)

사울이 그에게 이르되 그의 모양이 어떠하냐 하니 그가 이르되 한 노인이 올라오는데 그가 겉옷을 입었나이다 하더라 사울이 그가 사무엘인 줄 알고 그의 얼굴을 땅에 대고 절하니라 삼상15:27

 

Before going to battle with the Philistines, king Saul went to see a fortune teller. He wanted to know what Samuel, his dead counselor, thought and expected.

On Van Oostsanen's panel Samuel rises from his grave, behind the gate. He was angry for being disturbed and predicted disaster for Saul: he would lose the battle, and his sons would die at it.

It is unclear what all the figures in the scene depict. To the left Saul meets the fortune teller, in the town of Endor. In the front, she is sitting on a couple of owls, classic symbols of wisdom. Among the figures are satyrs: men with goat's legs. The panel may have served as a warning against witchcraft.

Below the fortune teller a note appears to be attached to the panel: a trompe-l'oeil. It reads "Aº 1526 noveb. 29" above the letters I and A and a monogram with the letter W: Van Oostsanen's usual signature.