The subject matter of The Shepherd David is based on the First Book of Samuel, chapter 17, verse 34, in which David, to prove his worthiness to fight Goliath, recounts to Saul that as a shepherd he would fight wild beasts that threatened his flock. When a lion or bear would steal a lamb, David would intrepidly chase it down and slay it if it turned on him. In The Shepherd David, Elizabeth Jane Gardner depicts a young David kneeling victoriously on a dead lion while clutching a lamb in the crook of his right arm. He gesticulates with his left hand as he gazes up toward the heavens, pointing to the source of his strength. Gardner's portrayal of David holding the young creature also alludes to his biblical place as a direct ancestor of Christ, whose sacrificial role is symbolized by the lamb.

The monumental composition and David's pose reflect Gardner's familiarity with old-master paintings and classical sculpture. David's marmoreal skin set against a background of muted blues and earth tones further contributes to this representation as an otherworldly being. The polished surface of the work, which Gardner achieved through the use of a smooth, unbroken brush stroke, conveys the idea that this is a historic moment frozen in time.

Writing to her sister Maria in 1895 about The Shepherd David, Gardner boasted that the painting would soon grace a full page in the art dealer Albert Goupil's publication on the best pictures of the year. Gardner also recognized that producing this work was not a "good paying investment," as it might be too "serious for ordinary tastes" and would be better suited for a museum.3

3 Elizabeth Gardner to Maria Gardner, May 3, 1895. Elizabeth Gardner Papers, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.