Object Details
- Artist
- William Sidney Mount, born Setauket, NY 1807-died Setauket, NY 1868
- Luce Center Label
- William Sidney Mount created only a few paintings based on historical and literary scenes. This piece illustrates a passage from the Old Testament, in which Saul sought help from an oracle before going to war with the Philistines. The witch summoned the spirit of the prophet Samuel so that Saul could ask him for advice. In this painting, Saul and his men cower in horror as the ghost comes forward to speak to them (1 Samuel 28). This episode was familiar to nineteenth-century audiences who had been raised on scripture.
- Credit Line
- Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of International Business Machines Corporation
- 1828
- Object number
- 1966.48.1
- Restrictions & Rights
- CC0
- Type
- Painting
- Medium
- oil on canvas
- Dimensions
- 36 x 48 in. (91.3 x 122.0 cm)
- See more items in
- Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection
- Department
- Painting and Sculpture
- On View
- Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center, 3rd Floor, 7B
- Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center
- Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center, 3rd Floor
- Smithsonian American Art Museum
- Topic
- Figure group\male
- Landscape\time\night
- State of being\phenomenon\vision
- State of being\emotion\fear
- Religion\Old Testament\Saul
- Religion\Old Testament\Witch of Endor
- Record ID
- saam_1966.48.1
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/vk7ed796c6d-08a7-435f-b1bd-cac3bd602b2d
