Johan ZOFFANY
German-English 1733-1810
Self-portrait as David with the head of Goliath
c.1756
oil on canvas
92.2 x 74.7 cm
Purchased with the assistance of the Isabella Mary Curnick Bequest and The Art Foundation of Victoria, 1994
ICI - 1994

Zoffany occasionally portrayed his friends or fellow artists as characters in his chosen narrative, often with sarcastic or ironic overtones. He also included himself in large-scale narratives, thus it is consistent that he would use his likeness for the biblical hero David and, perhaps, someone known to him as the beheaded Goliath.

Unfortunately, although the head of Goliath has portrait qualities, a likely model has yet to be identified. Speculation as to the point of the blatantly homoerotic qualities of the work is also problematic as it is difficult to surmise whether this is autobiographical, or a reference the model for Goliath.

Alternatively, it may be an ironic swipe that an effeminate and idealised figure with a soft, fleshy physique could defeat in mortal combat the ferocious giant Goliath. The portrayal of David as a model of ideal beauty has many artistic precursors. This notion based on his description in the Bible.