The artwork entitled “The Judgment of Solomon” is a fresco by the renowned High Renaissance artist Raphael, created between 1509 and 1511. Measuring 120 by 105 centimeters, this religious painting is located in the Palazzo Apostolico at the Vatican. The piece exemplifies the High Renaissance style that emphasizes harmony, balance, and the idealization of the human figure.
“The Judgment of Solomon” depicts a scene from the biblical story where King Solomon demonstrates his wisdom. In the artwork, the central figures are King Solomon, two women, and a baby, with additional figures surrounding them. Solomon, seated on a throne to the right, gestures in a commanding manner, illustrating the moment of his discerning judgment. To the left, a woman is held back by a man, her arms reaching out desperately towards the baby at the scene’s center. A second woman kneels before the throne, indicating her acceptance of Solomon’s decision.
The narrative captures the tension of the moment when Solomon orders the living child to be divided between the two women claiming to be the mother. His true intent is to reveal the child’s real mother by her reaction to this horrific decree. The drama is further conveyed through the expressive gestures and physiognomy of the characters, as well as the use of perspective and anatomical detail characteristic of Renaissance art. The backdrop and color palette are used effectively to focus the viewer’s attention on the figures and the unfolding story, a testament to Raphael’s mastery of composition and storytelling through visual art.
