Fireplace Plaque The Judgement Of Solomon 17th Century (101x86 Cm)

17th century fireplace plate, in very good condition, depicting the judgment of Solomon. Solomon, seated on a throne under a draped canopy, holds the scepter in his right hand, a sign of supreme power, and with his left hand points to the woman of ill repute who indifferently watches the division ordered by the judge. A soldier holds the living child by one foot and, with his right hand, the sword to cut it in two. The real mother throws herself at the King's feet, to implore him to give the whole child to the one who wants to take it from him. The dead child is also lying on its back at the bottom of the painting. In the background, an ancient city and a representation of the temple of Jerusalem (or Solomon), the first "House of God", built around 960 BC. JC.. "The judgment of Solomon is a decision or proposed conclusion inspired by a story from the Hebrew Bible, which depicts Solomon, at the head of the kingdom of Israel, wisely settling the dispute between two women, each claiming maternity of the same child. The First Book of Kings (3, 16-28) says that the dispute was between two women who had each given birth to a child, but one had died of suffocation. They then argued over the surviving child. To settle this disagreement, Solomon demanded a sword and ordered: "Divide the living child in two and give half to the first and half to the second." One of the women declared that she would rather give up the child than see it die. As a result, Solomon recognized the child's true mother. He gave her the infant and thus saved the child's life. The masterful lesson of this judgment is to succeed in detaching oneself from equality, by satisfactory appearance, and to seek true justice. The analysis of the emotions that led to the dispute (jealousy for the one who is not a mother, maternal instinct for the other) is more important than material clues. The appeasement of the parties, a consequence of true justice, takes into account the underlying emotions. The real mother keeps the child, the jealous one is punished: bad intentions are thwarted, love is rewarded. We can use this parable as an illustration of the precept that justice is not equality. The role of the judge appears different from what it may have become: more than a "mouthpiece of the law", an equalizer, he is an actor and reaches a strong verdict. Here we see the role of judge painted more as the expression of wisdom, of knowledge of man, than as regulatory expertise." Wikipedia Its weight is 85 kg. This plaque was found in Guénange in Moselle. Our illustration: Tapestry, 17th century, Vouet, after a cartoon by Simon, Oiron castle, Deux Sèvres. Bibliography: - Annals of the archaeological institute of Luxembourg, volume 28, 1908, JB Sibenaler, p. 133, n° 58. - CARPENTIER H., Plaques de cheminées, Tome premier, F. DE NOBELE, Paris, 1967, p. 45, n° 54. You can visit our site: www.claudeaugustin.com