This painting illustrates an episode in the young David's life, found in the first book of Samuel, chapter 17, verses 32-37, where he describes to Saul his fitness to go and fight Goliath: so frequently in the past had he had to wrestle with and kill the wild beasts that had frightened his flock.

Joseph Gillot (1799-1873), the first ownerof this painting made his fortune by experimenting with different qualities of steel for a variety of uses, and by designing a new pen. He ammassed a large fortune through this and became not only patron but also friend of many artists of the day. Gillot was a great admirer of Linnell and had already bought 'Noah, the Eve of the Deluge', which was painted in 1848, for his collection. The present painting was one of the artist's favourite 'poetic landscapes', of which he only painted a small number, but to which he attached a great importance and significance.