David Preventing Abishai from Killing Saul c. 1650 - 1655

This is Willem Drost’s drawing ‘David Preventing Abishai from Killing Saul’ made with pen in brown ink. Drost lived in a time when Dutch society was grappling with its own identity and moral compass after its Golden Age. Here we see a pivotal biblical moment rendered with dramatic intensity: David averting a vengeful act against Saul. In the depiction of the figures, notice how power, loyalty, and morality intertwine. Drost seems to ask us if true leadership lies in bloodshed or restraint. This is especially interesting in light of the era he lived in, as the Dutch Republic struggled with their own notions of power in the face of wealth and prosperity. David’s internal struggle with his conscience invites us to reflect on our own responses to injustice and the difficult choices we make when confronted with the chance to exact revenge.