Rispah, 2nd Book of Samuel, Chapter 21 (Liber Studiorum, part IX, plate 46) 1812

Joseph Mallord William Turner created this mezzotint print, “Rispah” as part of his “Liber Studiorum,” a series intended to display different genres of landscape painting. Turner illustrates a biblical scene from the Second Book of Samuel. Rispah, a concubine of King Saul, protects the bodies of her sons from scavengers. Her vigil is a lament against injustice; they were killed to appease a vengeful G-d. This scene encapsulates themes of mourning, justice, and maternal resilience. Turner reduces the narrative to a stark, solitary scene emphasizing Rispah’s emotional and psychological state. He develops an alternative narrative that emphasizes the emotional and personal dimensions of the piece. Consider the power dynamics at play: Rispah, a woman of relatively low status, defying both divine and political authority through her act of protest. The print reflects societal issues of justice and power, while referencing the emotional and personal dimensions of the piece.