The Judgment of Solomon 1640s

Leonaert Bramer's "The Judgment of Solomon" (1640s) is an oil painting that depicts a scene from the Book of Kings in the Bible. In the scene, King Solomon is shown ruling on a dispute between two women who both claim to be the mother of the same baby. Solomon commands that the baby be cut in half, knowing that the real mother would plead for the baby's life. The painting is considered a fine example of Baroque style, with dramatic use of light and shadow, and a theatrical composition. The painting is currently on display in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.