Panel with the story of King Solomon
Unknown Artist
ca. 1600
Medium
Silk and wool on canvas
Dimensions
H. 48 x W. 62 inches (121.9 x 157.5 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Embroidered
Culture
French
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Irwin Untermyer, 1964
Accession Number
64.101.1370
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the opulent world of 17th-century France with this magnificent embroidered panel, *Panel with the story of King Solomon*, created around 1600. Woven from luxurious silk and wool threads on a canvas ground, this large textile—measuring nearly 4 by 5 feet—vividly narrates episodes from the life of the biblical king renowned for his wisdom. The unknown French artist's intricate stitching brings to life Solomon's court, emphasizing themes of kingship and the pivotal roles of women, likely highlighting the famous Judgment of Solomon where he discerns the true mother among two claimants. ...