Judgment of Solomon 1854

Konstantin Flavitsky’s painting, Judgment of Solomon, depicts a famous story from the Bible about King Solomon's wise decision. This Russian artwork shows how the artist combines academic painting with moral storytelling. It engages with ideas about justice, truth, and power within a deeply religious society. The scene is set in what the artist imagined to be Solomon’s court. Through his artistic style, such as the gestures of the figures and the expressions on their faces, Flavitsky conveys deep emotion. The woman kneeling before Solomon is filled with despair, while the other woman holding the child shows a mix of defiance and concern. The painting reflects the artist’s historical context, in which religion was a central part of Russian culture and where the monarchy ruled by divine right. Through art historical research, we can better understand the complex social dynamics that shaped Flavitsky’s artistic vision and how Russian artists used visual art to engage with questions of morality and justice.