Solomon gives verdict: Solomon gives verdict; he commands a soldier to divide the living child in two; the true mother objects to Solomon's verdict (1 Kings 3:25-27)

In this dramatic painting, King Solomon sits enthroned, commanding a soldier to divide a living child. The scene captures the biblical moment from 1 Kings 3:25-27, where two women claim to be the child's true mother. The artist, Adriaen van der Werff, masterfully uses light and shadow to heighten the tension, drawing the viewer's eye to the distressed true mother, who recoils in horror, pleading for the child's life. Her anguished face contrasts sharply with the cold resolve of the soldier and the other woman's feigned indifference. The rich robes and architectural setting emphasize the solemnity of the court, making the human drama at its center all the more poignant. This work, created in 1697, exemplifies the Baroque period's interest in grand narratives and emotional intensity.