Italian school; 17th century.
"The Judgement of Solomon".
Oil on canvas.
It has craquelure on the pictorial surface.
Measures: 10 x 21.5 cm; 25 x 36.5 cm (frame).
In this work the painter narrates the scene of the trial of Solomon in a sketchy and suggestive manner, composing a work of great narrative and scenographic character, set in an interior, the composition is notable for its dynamism and movement, which comes from the dramatic postures adopted by some of the characters, such as the mothers on the right.

With regard to the theme of the work, it is worth mentioning that the Judgement of Solomon is narrated in the Old Testament (I Kings 3:16-28), and describes the wise recourse used by the king of Israel to ascertain the truth of the case before him: the dispute between two women, the son of one of whom had died, both claiming to be the mother of the living child. The episode exalts the justice and wisdom of the one who wields legitimate political power, that is, the power that comes from God according to the traditional interpretation. It also highlights the value of maternal abnegation, which prefers to renounce one's own right for the sake of the child, in contrast to the evil of envy, which prefers the evil of others even if it is not to one's own advantage. This scene has been depicted in art since the Middle Ages, and its iconography influenced the composition of different themes with similar elements: the life decision of a magistrate, usually enthroned, accompanied by soldiers and generally with the presence of a female figure.