Saul and David

The painting was originally larger, but in the 19th century the canvas was cut into two unequal pieces – possibly to be sold as separate paintings. The pieces were later reattached to each other. 

The painting depicts Saul, the king of the Israelites. He is visually touched by the harp playing. The depicted situation comes from 1 Samuel 16:14-23 and 1 Samuel 18:8-11, in which King Saul is abandoned by the Holy Spirit, and God sends him an evil spirit. It taunts Saul, and only David's harp playing can relax him. Later David married Michal, one of Saul's daughters. He eventually succeeded his father-in-law as King of the Israelites.