Oordeel van Salomo
Medium
engraving
Dimensions
79; 113
About this artwork
gravure
Art Historical Context
Heinrich Aldegrever's *Oordeel van Salomo*Judgment of Solomon), in 1555, the dramatic biblical tale from the Old Testament where King Solomon wisely resolves a dispute between two women claiming the same infant by suggesting it be divided in two. The true mother reveals herself by pleading for the child's life, showcasing Solomon's legendary discernment. This engraving, measuring just 113 mm high by 79 mm wide, exemplifies Aldegrever's as one of the "Little Masters"—a group of 16th-century German engravers renowned for their intricate work on small scales. As a leading figure in the Northern ...
About the Artist
Heinrich Aldegrever · 1502–1561
Heinrich Aldegrever, born in 1502 in Paderborn, Westphalia, to parents Herman and Katherine Trippenmeker—a family of clog-makers known by the dialect name Trippenmecker—emerged as a multifaceted artist in the German Renaissance. His early training remains undocumented, though he likely apprenticed in a Soest goldsmith's workshop after relocating there around 1525, where he joined the painters' gui...