David and Bathsheba - Hans Brosamer

A detailed sixteenth-century engraving by Hans Brosamer depicting the biblical scene of David and Bathsheba within a classical architectural setting.

This engraving by Hans Brosamer depicts the biblical narrative of King David observing Bathsheba. Brosamer, a German artist active in the sixteenth century, was known for his work as a painter, engraver, and goldsmith. His style reflects the influence of the Little Masters, a group of German printmakers who specialised in small, highly detailed engravings.

The composition is structured around a central fountain, which serves as the focal point for the figures. Bathsheba is shown kneeling by the water, accompanied by her attendants. In the upper background, Brosamer includes the figure of King David, positioned on a balcony to observe the scene. The architectural setting features classical arches and colonnades, which provide a sense of depth and spatial organisation typical of the period. The artist employs precise hatching and cross-hatching techniques to define the textures of the clothing, the stone masonry, and the water flowing from the fountain.

Brosamer often incorporated his monogram, visible here in the lower right corner, into his prints. This work demonstrates the technical proficiency required for copperplate engraving during the Renaissance. The figures are dressed in contemporary sixteenth-century attire, a common practice in Northern Renaissance art where biblical stories were transposed into the artist's own time. The print captures a moment of quiet narrative tension, balancing the domestic activity of the women with the distant, voyeuristic presence of the king. The work is a representative example of the small-scale devotional and narrative prints that circulated among collectors and scholars in Germany during the mid-sixteenth century.