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Lot Essay
Compare with the signed picture depicting the Continence of Scipio by Horst, formerly in the Kaiser Friedrich Museum, Berlin (destroyed in World War II; see W. Sumowski, Gemälde der Rembrandtschüler, 1983, II, p. 1391, no. 911, illustrated).
The subject, seldom depicted, is taken from I Kings XXI: 17-29. The prophet Eliah foretells that King Ahab, his wife Jezebel and their descendants will be killed by the Revenge of the Lord and that their blood will be lapped up by dogs. This punishment was wreaked upon them because of Achab's treacherous killing of Naboth and his subsequent taking of his vineyard. The painting depicts the moment that Achab collapses after hearing the prophecy and rends his clothes apart.
The subject, seldom depicted, is taken from I Kings XXI: 17-29. The prophet Eliah foretells that King Ahab, his wife Jezebel and their descendants will be killed by the Revenge of the Lord and that their blood will be lapped up by dogs. This punishment was wreaked upon them because of Achab's treacherous killing of Naboth and his subsequent taking of his vineyard. The painting depicts the moment that Achab collapses after hearing the prophecy and rends his clothes apart.