This dramatic painting shows the young David holding the severed head of the giant Goliath. Caravaggio’s signature use of tenebrism gives the scene a chilling immediacy. The psychological tension in David’s expression, balanced with the macabre realism of Goliath’s lifeless face, showcases the artist’s unmatched ability to capture emotion and narrative in a single frame.
While this is the only confirmed Caravaggio painting in the Prado’s permanent collection, the museum also houses works by other artists deeply influenced by his style, known as the Caravaggisti, such as José de Ribera and Orazio Gentileschi.
