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Style of Luca Giordano, 'The Toilet of Bathsheba', after 1705

About the work

Overview

This is a scene from a story in the Old Testament. The naked woman is Bathsheba. She has just finished bathing, unaware that she has been spotted by King David, who is standing on the roof of his palace at the top right of the picture. According to the Bible, David was so besotted with Bathsheba’s beauty that he seduced her and then ordered her husband Uriah into the forefront of a battle. Uriah was soon killed, and David proceeded to take Bathsheba as his wife.

As an unwitting temptress, Bathsheba was a popular figure in art history. Her story provided a good excuse to make pictures like this, which – thinly disguised as a religious painting – depicts a voluptuous nude in an unguarded moment. Although the style is reminiscent of Giordano, it is more likely to be by an imitator working after his death.

Key facts

Details

Full title
The Toilet of Bathsheba
Artist
Style of Luca Giordano
Artist dates
1634 - 1705
Date made
after 1705
Medium and support
oil on canvas
Dimensions
50.1 × 63.4 cm
Acquisition credit
Sir Claude Phillips Bequest, 1924
Inventory number
NG4035
Location
Not on display
Collection
Main Collection

About this record

If you know more about this painting or have spotted an error, please contact us. Please note that exhibition histories are listed from 2009 onwards. Bibliographies may not be complete; more comprehensive information is available in the National Gallery Library.

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