The Story of David and Goliath

mythological

In the top left corner, David tends his flock; in the left middle-ground, he selects stones for his sling; further to the right, David refuses armour; right of centre, he aims his sling at Goliath. In the centre foreground David decapitates Goliath. This painting probably formed part of a cassone or another piece of furniture, like its companion 'The Triumph of David', also in the National Gallery.

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About the Artist

Pesellino

1422 – 1457

Pesellino (Francesco di Stefano), Florentine painter who studied under his father Stefano di Francesco and inherited his studio workshop. His style combined elements from Fra Filippo Lippi, Masaccio and Fra Angelico. He appears to have worked with Lippi, who completed the altarpiece The Holy Trinity after Pesellino's death. Pesellino worked with Uccello on battle scenes for the Medici Palace, Florence, and also painted panels for cassone ('bridal chests'). 1453 Pesellino went into partnership with Piero di Lorenzo di Pratese (d 1487) and Zanobi di Migliore, and numerous replicas of popular Virgin and Child compositions by Pesellino were probably produced in this joint workshop for sale on the open market.

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