The Judgement of Solomon, ca. 1630 – 1640

About the Work

The biblical account is about two mothers who have both given birth to a child at the same time. Whan one of the infants dies in the night, its mother claims the living child for herself. King Solomon is called upon to hear the case and undertakes to establish the truth by issuing a cruel command: The living child is to be hewn in two. The drawing depicts the episode’s dramatic climax. As the executioner raises his sabre, the rightful mother rushes to the fore. She is prepared to surrender her child to save its life.