Art Reading Scripture

David With the Head of Goliath, Caravaggio, 1606, Borghese Gallery Rome, Italy

When the Philistine (Goliath) drew nearer to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. David put his hand in his bag, took out a stone, slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead; the stone sank deep into his forehead, and he fell down to the ground. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, striking down the Philistine and killing him; there was no sword in David's hand. Then David ran and stood over the Philistine; he grasped his sword, drew it out of its sheath, and killed him; then he cut off his head. ... David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, ... 1 Samuel 17:48-51, 54

Who doesn't like a good beheading story? Judging from the number of stories and paintings of them, they were quite popular. Caravaggio painted beheading scenes of David and Goliath, Judith and Holofernes, and John the Baptist. Caravaggio was not unique in depicting stories of beheadings and gruesome deaths. David and Goliath became a popular Sunday School, story, though probably not so graphically illustrated for young viewers. In the 1600's people were not so squeamish about death and gore. No doubt children asked their parents to tell them the story when they saw paintings like this. While the painting and the story are dramatic enough the story that accompanies the painting is perhaps even more stunning.

On May 28, 1606 Caravaggio fought a duel with a long time rival, Ranuccio Tomassoni, a pimp who had harsh interactions with one of his prostitutes Fillide Melandroni, one of Caravaggio's friends and models. The duel took place at a tennis court. The pretext for the duel was a dispute about the match played between the two, though no rackets or balls were present. Caravaggio stabbed Tomassoni in the groin severing the feral artery. Tomassoni's brother stepped out of the crowd of onlookers and struck Caravaggio on the head. Caravaggio briefly attended to his wounds, met with his lawyer, gathered some supplies and fled for refuge to his family's protectress, Marchesa Costanza. He was accompanied by a boy, Cecco, who posed for Caravaggio's paintings and was Caravaggio's young intimate companion. (Yes, Caravaggio lived a sordid, complicated life.) Caravaggio confessed to the murder and Constanza gave him shelter. During his time of exile he continued painting. Among the essential supplies he took from his home before fleeing Rome were his painting materials. One of the paintings that comes from this time and somewhat reflects his contrition for committing murder was David with the Head of Goliath. This backstory sets up the punchline of the painting.

The painting is literally and figuratively one of Caravaggio's darker paintings. He typically painted very dark backgrounds which highlighted the subjects and stories he interpreted. David is young, but somber, rather than exultant. He holds the head at arms length, looking down on it in disdain and disgust. In his other hand he holds Goliath's sword with the letters H.O.C.S. (barely visible) inscribed on the blade; "'humilitas occidit superbiam ': humility kills pride." Goliath's head still drips blood. His eyes still open express some life, shock, and dismay. One eye is cast down, the other seems to still see. The punchline of the story is that Cecco was the model for David, and Goliath is a self-portrait of Caravaggio himself. Caravaggio knew his sins ever before him. He knew the threat of his damnation as well as the threat of the sentence of exile or death that pursued him from Rome.

Finally, the patron for whom this was painted becomes part of the story. Scipione Borghese, nephew of the Pope, was also the chief administrator of papal justice. He had the authority to decide the sentence against Caravaggio, his life, death or exile. Andrew Graham-Dixon writes, "The David and Goliath was Caravaggio's darkly ingenious plea to the one man who could save him: his way of saying that Borghese was welcome to have his head in a painting, if only he would let him keep it in real life." Borghese was ultimately unable to cut a deal in Caravaggio's favor. So, he fled further down to Naples and eventually to the island of Malta.

"Off with their heads" is the cry of justice for extreme crimes, particularly against royalty and the elite, but also from those who have suffered many kinds of great loss. Caravaggio pled for mercy, figuratively offering his severed head. Whether it was exactly repentance or not is debatable. Some pray desperately, offering God things they will not follow through on in order to solicit mercy. Caravaggio was sinful, aware of punishments, both worldly and eternal. His faith was real, but he was also savvy, wise like a serpent, but never innocent as a dove.

Keep the faith. Say your prayers. Love like Jesus.

Pastor Tim Bauer