The Judgment of Solomon

Paolo Veronese's Judgment of Solomon — the Old Testament scene in which the wise king reveals the true mother of an infant by threatening to divide the child — was painted in the early Seicento context and reflects the continued admiration for Veronese's monumental compositional style. The Veronese attribution for works with this date warrants attention to workshop attribution; regardless, the composition draws directly on Veronese's grand manner of courtly biblical narrative.

The composition deploys the courtly architectural setting and assembled witnesses characteristic of Veronese's narrative style. The dramatic moment — the soldier raising his sword over the infant — provides the focal point around which the other figures are organised in emotional response. The warm, rich Venetian palette and confident figure arrangement reflect Veronese's influence.