King David and the Wise Women

This gem of a catalogue accompanies an exhibition at Waddesdon Manor, Buckinghamshire,on one of the great painters of 17th-century Italy, Giovanni Francesco Barbieri, known asGuercino (1591-1666). It brings together for the fi rst time Waddesdon’s King David with threepaintings of sibyls (female prophets from classical antiquity) on loan from the NationalGallery and the Royal Collection.Readers and viewers alike will be immersed in the poetry, colour and majesty of these fourworks, which were all painted in the year 1651 by the great Italian artist Guercino (‘TheSquinter’). They have never before been seen together.The catalogue will investigate the relationship between David, Jewish patriarch, psalmistand prophet, whom Christians believed prefi gured Christ, and the four turbaned, paganseers, who supposedly foretold Christ’s birth. Guercino’s brilliant depiction of fabrics andmaterials –silk, fl esh and ermine, paper, wood and stone – evokes ideas about inspiration andcontemplation, sight and foresight, poetry and prophecy.