Auction 48
GRAND WINTER AUCTION OF HAUTE EPOQUE, OLD MASTERS AND WATCHES
By Templum Fine Art Auctions
Contact auction house
Jan 23, 2025
Carrer del Rosselló, 193, 08036 Barcelona - España, Spain
Terms of sale
Pick-up hours or instructions
View demo
- AUCTION FROM JANUARY 23 AT 4:00 p.m.
- OPEN EXHIBITION! JANUARY 8
- Monday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- Saturdays and Sundays: Closed
To participate in the auction -
/
|
LOT 317:
Circle of Peter Paul Rubens (Siegen, 1577 - Antwerp, 1640) - The Judgement of Solomon
more...
|
|
|
Estimated price :
€
5,000 - €9,000
Buyer's Premium: 22%
More details
VAT: 21%
On commission only
Users from foreign countries may be exempted from tax payments, according to the relevant tax regulations
|
Circle of Peter Paul Rubens (Siegen, 1577 - Antwerp, 1640) - The Judgement of Solomon
Oil on copper. This dramatic depiction of The Judgement of Solomon, attributed to the circle of Peter Paul Rubens, is a composition charged with dynamism, theatricality and an emotional depth characteristic of the Flemish Baroque. In the centre, King Solomon, seated on a raised throne, points authoritatively towards the executioner, who is holding the infant that is being fought over between the two mothers. The narrative tension is manifest in the postures of the figures: one of the women, in an act of desperate supplication, bows towards the ground imploring mercy, while the other, standing, watches with an impassive expression.
The group of witnesses surrounding the scene, made up of male and female figures, display a range of expressions from surprise to reflection, providing a choral emotional dimension. The folds of the garments, elaborately crafted and fluid in movement, stand out in vibrant shades of gold, red and white, contrasting with the dark, monumental architectural background, which frames the scene with columns and curtains.
The rich, saturated colour palette and the play of light and shadow are typical of the influence of Rubens, who was a master at capturing both the physical and psychological intensity of his subjects. The lighting concentrates on the faces and hands of the main figures, guiding the viewer's eye to key points in the biblical narrative.
The copper format, which allows for detailed execution and a glossy finish, reinforces the visual richness of the work. The composition and expressive intensity of the figures reflect Rubens' monumental style, while the scale and support suggest that this work might have been conceived for a private collector or an intimate devotional context.
The Judgement of Solomon was a popular subject in the Baroque for its combination of wisdom, justice and human drama, and this work, attributed to the circle of Rubens, is a masterful example of how these values are translated into visual terms, combining biblical narrative with the artistic splendor of the Flemish Baroque. Dimensions: 79 x 65 cm.
