Caravaggio - David with the Head of Goliath 1610
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David with the Head of Goliath 1610
125x101cm oil/canvas
Borghese Gallery, Rome, Italy
The image is only being used for informational and educational purposes
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The immediate inspiration for Caravaggio was a work by a follower of Giorgione, c.1510, but Caravaggio captures the drama more effectively by having the head dangling from David's hand and dripping blood, rather than resting on a ledge. The sword in David's hand carries an abbreviated inscription H-AS OS; this has been interpreted as an abbreviation of the Latin phrase humilitas occidit superbiam ("humility kills pride").