King David in the index of Christian art

David - the greatest king of Israel, the founder of Jerusalem and one of the pivotal figures of the Old Testament - was a rich source of inspiration for artists and their patrons throughout the medieval world.

Regarded as a direct ancestor of Jesus, the "sweet psalmist of Israel" appears in countless works of art, from the Dura Europus paintings to the many illuminated psalters of the later medieval period.

These depictions of David are as varied as they are numerous.

He appears, among other roles, as musician, author, warrior, lover, shepherd, politician, worshipper, father, king, refugee and mourner.

This volume is a comprehensive survey of the vast profusion of David images in both Byzantium and the West, providing an authoritative guide to the entire range of medieval depictions.

With over 5,000 entries organized into more than 240 recognizable episodes from his richly illustrated life, the catalogue includes all of the David entries in the Index of Christian Art's card files and database.The objects catalogued here range in date from the 3rd to the 15th century, and represent 14 different media, including frescoes, ivories, manuscripts, stained glass, sculpture, mosaics and t