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Initially Jan van den Hoecke painted in a style associated with that of Rubens's later work; he had in fact worked with him in the 1630s. His earliest work consists mainly of biblical pictures. Particularly worthy of mention are his oil sketches for Old Testament scenes probably intended as an integrated series. The present oil sketch belongs to this series.
In this scene, Saul, the King of Israel, rides in triumph on a horse-drawn chariot, surrounded by his war trophies, towards the walls of a city attended by his soldiers. David holds the head of the felled Philistine giant Goliath. They are greeted by women and children playing instruments.
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