| Bathsheba at the Fountain | |
| Artist: | Peter Paul Rubens |
| Year: | c. 1635 |
| Medium: | Oil on oak |
| Height Metric: | 175 |
| Width Metric: | 126 |
| Metric Unit: | cm |
| Imperial Unit: | in |
| Museum: | Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Dresden |
Bathsheba at the Fountain is a painting by Peter Paul Rubens completed around 1635.[1]
The central figure is Bathsheba, a character from the Bible. She was the wife of Uriah the Hittite. The story, related in Samuel 11 describes how King David, who is shown as a small figure on a balcony in the top left corner, saw Bathsheba bathing and fell in love with her. This painting shows her receiving the letter from David, inviting her for a discreet meeting being delivered.[2]
Bathsheba is attended by a maid who is combing her hair. There is also an African servant who is delivering David's letter. A dog is at her feet. Bathsheba is smiling and looking into the distance.[2]