Jacopo Tintoretto | Old Master Paintings | October 2016
1 Video View·Jan 19, 2026
The Battle between the Philistines and the Israelites by Jacopo Tintoretto appears to be previously unpublished and it is therefore a spectacular and important addition to the oeuvre of Jacopo Robusti, il Tintoretto. The present picture shows a battle, described in violently agitated terms, seemingly fractured into multiple episodes of death and salvation. The work is one of the highlights of the upcoming old master paintings sale at Dorotheum on October 18, 2016. Learn more: https://goo.gl/0M3AAB
The artistic output in the Republic City of Venice during the 16th century was outstanding,
and it was dominated by some of the greatest and most celebrated artists, including Jacopo
Robusti, known as Tintoretto. A spectacular and previously unknown work from Tintoretto's
mature period will be included in Dorotea's sale of Old Master paintings.
The composition depicts a battle described in violently agitated terms, which appears
fractured into multiple episodes of death and salvation. There are those who are spared
as they climb over palisades, and those who try to escape by hiding in a ravine. The presence
of elephants in the background suggests an oriental setting, and although the battle
scene has many figures, there are two obvious protagonists. A youth on the right closes
in on a man of gigantic proportions who is lying face down on the ground. This is a representation
of David, about to strike the final blow to his vanquished opponent, Goliath. This image
is extraordinary because David and Goliath are seldom shown in the context of a major
battle scene. Infrared reflectology of the painting reveals the painting's genesis and
emphasises the strikingly fluid creation of the composition with its vibrant and bold
brushstrokes, which are typical of Tintoretto's working practice. The swift and swelling touch
of the artist creates movement and dynamism, as well as emphasising the constantly changing
perspectives of the image, as if to reflect the relentlessly changing directions of the
composition. Tintoretto was a highly innovative artist and his lightness of touch in the handling
of paint was breathtakingly modern, and would greatly influence the future of painting.
It has been suggested that this work relates to a series of paintings which Tintoretto
originally created for the Gonzaga family, which were depicting the triumphs of the Dukes
of Manchur that are today in the Alte Pinakothek in Munich, and it is possible that this painting
once formed part of the cycle.