Landscape with Samuel Anointing David

This large biblical subject is taken from Samuel I, 16:13. It was one of Claude’s first commissioned works of this kind. The figures play an important role and their arrangement in a frieze was probably influenced by ancient models. The left side shows Samuel anointing David, watched by Jesse and his others sons; it is based largely on a fresco painted by Raphael’s studio. On the right, Claude depicts preparations for the sacrifice of a ram in the presence of a priest with his acolyte, based on a Sacrifice at Lystra after Raphael and a fresco by Domenichino in the church of San Luigi dei Francesi, The Martyrdom of Saint Cecilia.