Plate 11: Bathsheba interceding with David for Solomon, from Genesis 27, after a lost fresco in the basamento of Bay 11 of the Vatican Loggia 1650 - 1677

Pietro Santi Bartoli's print, made after a fresco in the Vatican Loggia, depicts Bathsheba pleading with David for their son Solomon. Note the motif of supplication, where Bathsheba kneels before David, hands clasped in entreaty. This gesture appears throughout history, from ancient Roman sculptures of conquered peoples begging for mercy to medieval images of saints interceding with Christ. The act of kneeling embodies humility and submission, appealing to the compassion of a higher power. It also evokes powerful psychological forces, engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level by tapping into primal instincts of dominance and submission. Consider also the royal bed, a symbol of power and lineage. Beds have recurred as potent emblems of family continuity. It reflects the cyclical nature of power, how symbols resurface, evolve, and accrue new meanings across contexts, constantly reshaping our understanding of the human condition.