According to the story, (Kings 1: 3-16) two prostitutes live together and give birth to baby boys. One infant dies at night and its mother switches her dead son for the live son of the second mother. Both women then come to Solomon claiming that the living baby is theirs. In his wisdom, Solomon orders the baby to be cut in two and one half given to each. The real mother pleads with Solomon not to kill the child, but to give him to her rival. The false mother, though, insists that the king’s solution is fair– if one can’t have the baby neither should the other. Solomon wisely awards the baby to its real mother.

This work, done largely in strong reds and greens, tells the story in four powerful scenes dominated by the majestic Solomon and the compassionate true mother.

Size: 29″ x 7″, Medium: tempera on board