Who painted The Judgment of Solomon?

The Judgment of Solomon was painted by Jacobus Buys in 1782.

Where can I see The Judgment of Solomon?

The Judgment of Solomon is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is The Judgment of Solomon?

The Judgment of Solomon is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

The Judgment of Solomon

Jacobus Buys , 1782

The Judgment of Solomon is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Jacobus Buys. It dates from 1782 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Cornelis Ploos van Amstel’s 1782 print, titled The Judgment of Solomon, is executed as an etching combined with aquatint on laid paper and printed in a warm red‑brown ink. The composition centers on a seated figure on an elevated throne, extending a hand toward a kneeling woman who presents a child, while a varied crowd observes the scene.

Subject & Meaning

The work depicts the biblical episode in which King Solomon adjudicates between two women claiming motherhood of a baby. The king’s poised demeanor and the woman’s urgent gesture convey the gravity of the decision, while the surrounding onlookers—adults and children alike—emphasize the public nature of the judgment.

Technique & Style

Ploos van Amstel employed a hybrid process: the linear details were incised by etching, while tonal areas were built up through aquatint, producing the characteristic soft gradations of the red‑brown ink. The laid paper surface adds a subtle texture, and the carved throne and draped curtain demonstrate careful attention to decorative elements.

History & Provenance

Created in the late eighteenth century, the print reflects the artist’s interest in biblical narratives and the technical possibilities of printmaking at the time. It remains documented as part of Ploos van Amstel’s oeuvre, with surviving examples held in European museum collections that specialize in graphic arts.