Koningin van Seba brengt Salomo geschenken 1607

Sisto Badalocchio created this engraving of the Queen of Sheba bringing gifts to Solomon in the early 17th century. It’s an interpretation of a biblical story that had been popular with artists since the early Renaissance. Here, the Queen of Sheba is depicted as an exotic noble bearing gifts to King Solomon, who was famed for his wisdom and judgement. Badalocchio worked in Italy, a culture that had been shaped by the Catholic Church. Religious stories were frequently commissioned by the church, but also by wealthy families who wanted to display their religiosity and good taste. What's striking here is the way the artist has chosen to depict the scene. The Queen of Sheba is placed on a lower step, indicating the superiority of King Solomon. Images like this reinforce established hierarchies. To understand it fully, we might look to religious texts, social histories, and the biographies of both the artist and his patrons. This will give us a sense of its place in the culture of the time.