The Judgement of Solomon (Stom, Houston)

The Judgement of Solomon (Stom, Houston) refers to a painting by the Flemish Baroque artist Quirijn van Stom (also known as Stom, Stommaert, or Stom, and active in Italy) depicting the biblical story of the Judgement of Solomon. The story, found in 1 Kings 3:16-28, recounts how King Solomon of Israel resolved a dispute between two women, both claiming to be the mother of the same baby.

According to the biblical narrative, the women lived together and each had a baby. One of the babies died, and each woman claimed the surviving child as her own. Unable to determine the true mother, Solomon proposed a test. He ordered a soldier to cut the baby in half and give one half to each woman. The true mother, overcome with compassion and willing to relinquish her claim to save the child's life, cried out for the baby to be given to the other woman instead. The false mother agreed with Solomon's proposal. Based on this reaction, Solomon declared the woman who showed compassion to be the true mother and awarded her the baby.

Quirijn van Stom, working in the 17th century, painted several versions of this scene. The location "Houston" likely refers to the present-day ownership or location of a specific version of the painting, presumably in a museum or private collection in Houston, Texas. Determining the precise details of this specific "Houston" version would require further research into art collections and exhibitions in that city. Stom's depictions, like many artistic renderings of the Judgement of Solomon, typically showcase the dramatic moment when Solomon orders the child to be divided, capturing the emotional reactions of the king, the two women, the soldier, and other onlookers. These works often highlight themes of wisdom, justice, maternal love, and the power of observation.