King David playing the harp from BL Add 15282, f. 302

Detail of an initial-word panel with King David playing harp in the middle flanked by a lion and a stag. Image taken from f. 302 of Pentateuch (the 'Duke of Sussex's German Pentateuch') with Targum Onkelos (ff. 1-290), small pieces on the feasts (ff. 291-293v), Five Scrolls (ff. 294-313v) and ~Haftarot~ with ~masorah magna~ and ~parva~ (ff. 314-358). Written in Hebrew, Aramaic.

David was a skilled musician and poet, and he played the harp to soothe King Saul when he was tormented by evil spirits. David's musical abilities and his role as a psalmist also led him to be associated with the worship of God and with the expression of devotion and praise. The image of David playing the harp remains a symbol of the connection between music, worship, and devotion in Western tradition.

david harp germany medieval manuscript illustrated books five scrolls hebrew manuscripts medieval miniatures illuminated initials duke aristocracy illuminations miniature illuminated manuscripts history british library

1300 - 1500

British Library

http://europeana.eu/

Public Domain