Artwork
Dream of Solomon
Dream of Solomon is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Luca Giordano. It dates from 1698 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Overview
The composition presents a nocturnal, ethereal tableau in which a sleeping woman reclines on a couch while a winged presence hovers above her.
Luca Giordano’s oil on canvas, Dream of Solomon, dates from 1698 and is part of the collection of the Museo del Prado. The composition presents a nocturnal, ethereal tableau in which a sleeping woman reclines on a couch while a winged presence hovers above her. Around the central pair, a host of figures—both celestial and mortal—float in a luminous, hazy atmosphere rendered in warm golds and whites.
Subject & Meaning
The work visualises a biblical or allegorical vision traditionally linked to King Solomon’s prophetic dream. The reclining woman may represent the dreamer, while the winged figure suggests a divine messenger delivering revelation. The surrounding assemblage of winged and wingless beings evokes a realm where the earthly and the heavenly intersect, emphasizing the transmission of sacred knowledge through vision.
Technique & Style
Giordano employs a luminous chiaroscuro, allowing the figures to appear as if they emit light from within rather than merely reflecting external illumination. Soft transitions between gold, white, and muted tones create a hazy, atmospheric glow. The brushwork combines the fluidity of the late Baroque with a delicate handling of light, giving the scene a dreamlike, almost intangible quality.
History & Provenance
Completed in the final decade of the 17th century, Dream of Solomon entered the Spanish royal collection before being transferred to the Museo del Prado, where it remains on display. The painting’s provenance reflects the cross‑court exchange of artworks between Italy and Spain during the Baroque period, illustrating the high regard for Giordano’s prolific output among European patrons.
Artist & collection
Artist
Luca Giordano was an Italian late-Baroque painter and printmaker in etching. Giordano was one of the most celebrated artists of the Neapolitan Baroque, whose vast output included altarpieces, mythological paintings and…
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