Copy after Raphael's Vatican Loggia Fresco : King David Promises Bathsheba That Solomon Will Rule

One of a series of eight drawings copying the now barely visible monochrome frescoes on the Vatican Loggias or Long Gallery. These were painted by Raphael's pupils and his workshop after his designs. The Gallery is divided up into 13 square vaults, with four frescoes within each vault. It was commissioned by a member of the Medici family, Pope Leo X, whose biography in English was first written by William Roscoe, one of the owners of this drawing. The Walker's drawings are in the same orientation as Bartoli's engravings of the frescoes. WAG 1995.223 is a copy of the frieze in the 11th bay of the Vatican Loggia, representing the Old Testament scene in the First Book of Kings, Chapter 1, verses 11-37. Here, King David confirms to Bathsheba (and the prophets and priests Nathan, Zadok and Benaiah) that he wants their son Solomon to succeed him as the next King of Israel.