The Judgment of Solomon Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (1696-1770)

This fresco depicts the biblical story of The Judgment of Solomon. In the scene, two women are presented before King Solomon, each claiming to be the mother of an infant. One womans baby has died, and she accuses the other of swapping it for her living child. To discern the true mother, Solomon orders a soldier to divide the baby in half with a sword.
On the left, the supposed mother is shown recoiling in horror and desperation as the soldier raises the sword, her body contorted in anguish and extended to protect the infant forcefully. The other woman, on the right, appears to be feigning indifference or perhaps even pleasure at the prospect of the childs demise, while simultaneously reaching for it.
King Solomon, richly robed and seated centrally on a raised platform, gestures with his right hand, seemingly making his fateful pronouncement. Directly in front of him, his advisors and attendants observe the unfolding drama. The composition is grand and theatrical, with architectural elements and a sky filled with classical statuary, typical of Baroque ceiling frescoes.
The subtext of this painting lies in the demonstration of Solomons legendary wisdom and discernment. The dramatic tension highlights the profound maternal instinct and the stark contrast between genuine love and deception. Solomons judgment reveals the true mother not through logic alone, but by observing her visceral reaction of self-sacrifice and mercy, which elicits a powerful emotional response, while the imposters lack of such a reaction betrays her. The presence of religious and classical symbolism further elevates the scene, suggesting divine inspiration behind Solomons wisdom and the enduring themes of justice, truth, and motherhood.