A new iconographical addition to Francis I's adoption of the persona of King David and its contemporary literary context

Abstract

The presence in the Cathedral at Auch of a large carved representation of Francis I as the Biblical King David on the high back panel of one of the choir stalls, turning to face, in the next stall, a carving of Bathsheba of equal proportions, raises intriguing questions, especially as archive documentation on the subject is sparse and requires contemporary literary texts to support it. This article considers how the carving fits into Francis's known iconography, who may have been responsible for commissioning it (Hippolyte d’Este was Cardinal‐Archbishop of Auch at the relevant time, 1552–1554) and how Francis in the persona of David was seen by his court poet, Clément Marot, by his sister Marguerite de Navarre and by Francis himself. In addition the David‐Bathsheba episode invites comparison with Francis's relationship with the Duchesse d’Etampes. Finally the penitential role of the Psalms is seen to be equally important to both kings.