The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of March 28, 2024

David:  "Oh, that I had wings like a Dove!  For then would I fly away, and be at rest." Psalm 55:6

David: "Oh, that I had wings like a Dove! For then would I fly away, and be at rest." Psalm 55:6

1865
(British, 1830–1896)
Framed: 125 x 152.4 x 4.5 cm (49 3/16 x 60 x 1 3/4 in.); Unframed: 96.5 x 122.5 cm (38 x 48 1/4 in.)

Description

From the many events in the turbulent life of the biblical King David, Leighton chose to depict his moment of gravest doubt. Having just learned of the death of his rebellious son Absalom at the hands of his own army, David has withdrawn to a chamber above the city gate. Casting aside his crown, which lies on the floor, the ruler muses on the conflicting demands of family and nation.
  • Possibly Henry Graves & Co., London sale, Christie's, 7 March 1868. James Leathart by 1884, London sale, Christie's, 19 June 1897 (lot 39), 130 gns. to Colnaghi. Different Properties, London sale, Christie's, 21 July 1919 (lot 121), £50.80 to Sampson. Peter Nahum, London. Purchased by the CMA in 1986.
  • Cleveland Museum of Art, “Recent Acquisition in Focus: Lord Leighton’s King David, October 21 – November 29, 1987” October 8, 1987, Cleveland Museum of Art Archives. archive.org
    Argencourt, Louise d', and Roger Diederen. Catalogue of Paintings. Pt. 4. European Paintings of the 19th Century. Cleveland: Cleveland Museum of Art, 1974. Mentioned and reproduced: P. 396-397, Vol. II, no. 137
  • Artist as Narrator: Nineteenth Century Narrative Art in England and France. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, Oklahoma City, OK (organizer) (September 8-November 27, 2005).
    Oklahoma City Art Museum (9/8/2005 - 11/27/2005): "Artist as Narrator: Nineteenth Century Narrative Art in England and France", p. 16.
    Frederic Leighton 1830-1896 (Frederic, Lord Leighton). Royal Academy of Arts (organizer) (February 15-April 21, 1996).
    London, Royal Academy. Frederic Leighton 1830-1896 (1996), no. 34 (repr.).
    Year in Review for 1986. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (February 4-March 15, 1987).
    London, Peter Nahum and Chris Beetles. Inaugural Exhibition. A Celebration of British and European Painting of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries (London, 1985), 32-35 (repr.). Text by Christopher Newall.
    London, Royal Academy. (1865), no. 5, David; "Oh that I had wings like a Dove!"
    London, Royal Academy. Exhibition of Works by the Late Lord Leighton of Stretton, Winter Exhibition (1897), no. 18, David, 1865, lent by Mrs. Leathart.
  • {{cite web|title=David: "Oh, that I had wings like a Dove! For then would I fly away, and be at rest." Psalm 55:6|url=false|author=Frederic Leighton|year=1865|access-date=28 March 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1986.74