The Judgement of Cambyses 1542

"The Judgement of Cambyses" (1542) by Dirck Vellert depicts a scene from the biblical story of Cambyses II, the Persian King, who ordered the flaying of a corrupt judge. Vellert was a Dutch painter and glassmaker, active in the mid-16th century. This roundel, painted on glass, depicts the judge's skin being stretched over a framework, while the executioner uses a knife to separate the skin from the body. The scene is set in a lavish interior, typical of Vellert's style. This dramatic work likely served as a warning against corruption and injustice.