David with the Head of Goliath, 1609-1610
Completed for Cardinal Scipione Borghese in 1610 (perhaps in the hope that he would help getting papal pardon for his murder charge), this painting shows a young David gazing at the head of the giant, which is a self-portrait of Caravaggio. The expression of David, showing deep sorrow, is a departure from previous depictions of young men in Caravaggio’s work, where the main focus was mostly on youthful beauty.
+© Public Domain