Batseba leidt haar zoon Salomo naar een troon met daarop een kroon en staf 1645

Gilles Rousselet made this print, Batseba leads her son Salomo to a throne with a crown and staff, sometime between 1614 and 1686. Here, we see the Old Testament figure of Bathsheba guiding her son Solomon to the throne, a symbolic gesture of succession. Made in France, this print reflects the intersection of religious narrative and political ideology, common in European art of the 17th century. The architecture and allegorical figures evoke the grandeur of royal power, while the image of Bathsheba underscores the importance of dynastic continuity and the role of women in shaping it. To understand this print, we can look to the cultural institutions of the time. Commissioned engravings often served to legitimize power or disseminate moral messages. By exploring the social and institutional context in which this print was made, we can better understand its cultural significance and enduring appeal.