Saul and His Armor-bearer Kill Themselves with Their Swords - Hans Collaert the Elder

A detailed hand-coloured engraving depicting the biblical death of King Saul on Mount Gilboa, executed in the Northern Renaissance style.

This hand-coloured engraving by Hans Collaert the Elder depicts the final moments of King Saul, as recounted in the First Book of Samuel. The composition is divided into two distinct zones: the immediate foreground, where the tragic act occurs, and the expansive background, which illustrates the broader chaos of the battle on Mount Gilboa.

In the foreground, Saul lies fallen upon the rocky terrain, his crown still visible, while his armour-bearer leans over his own sword. The figures are rendered with the precise, linear quality characteristic of sixteenth-century Flemish printmaking. The artist employs a narrative approach, showing the figures in a state of collapse that contrasts with the smaller, active soldiers engaged in combat in the distance. The inclusion of a shield featuring a classical relief adds a layer of decorative detail to the otherwise grim scene.

The work is part of a larger series of biblical illustrations, often produced for collectors who valued both the theological subject matter and the technical skill of the engraver. The application of colour, likely added by hand after the initial printing, helps to differentiate the various figures and elements of the landscape, such as the rolling hills and the distant city walls. The Latin inscription at the base provides the scriptural context, identifying the event as the defeat of the Israelites by the Philistines. This print offers a glimpse into the period's fascination with classical and biblical history, presented through the lens of Northern European artistic conventions. The attention to detail in the armour and the dramatic poses of the figures demonstrate the technical proficiency of the Collaert family, who were central figures in the Antwerp print trade during the late sixteenth century.