The Judgment of Solomon

mid-16th century

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 536

This undulating curiosity is carved on the top, sides, and back. On the back, in appreciably low relief and a flowing, Italianate style, is the Resurrection of Christ, the basic features of which are found on a stone in the Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Paris. The front bears a Judgment of Solomon in much the same quirky style as the cramped enactments of Jacob’s Dream and Elijah in the Fiery Chariot along the sides. The Solomon scene also occurs on a cameo in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna. The carver of the Metropolitan cameo most likely used the gems in Paris and Vienna as sources, rather than the other way around. The chunky object is drilled through from top to bottom; it may have been suspended, but it is rather weighty to have been worn as a pendant.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Provenance

Exhibition History

Title: The Judgment of Solomon
Date: mid-16th century
Culture: probably Netherlandish
Medium: Agate
Dimensions: Diameter, obverse: 1 3/4 x 3/4 in. (4.5 x 2 cm); Diameter, reverse: 59 x 19.5 mm
Classification: Lapidary Work-Gems
Credit Line: The Milton Weil Collection, 1938
Object Number: 38.150.2
Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

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Mary Magdalene at the Foot of the Cross, Master of Rimini, Alabaster, South Netherlandish — Mary Magdalene at the Foot of the Cross
Follower of the Master of Rimini
ca. 1420–30

Sleeping shepherdess in a moonlit landscape, Alessandro Masnago Italian, Agate, Italian, Milan — Sleeping shepherdess in a moonlit landscape
Alessandro Masnago
probably late 16th century

Paris, Antico (Pier Jacopo Alari Bonacolsi) Italian, Bronze, partially fire-gilt, silver inlay, Italian, Mantua — Paris
Antico (Pier Jacopo Alari Bonacolsi)
ca. 1518–1524

Pair of Stirrups, Iron, gold, Netherlandish — Pair of Stirrups
Netherlandish
first half 17th century

Nymph and Swan, Benedetto Pistrucci Italian, Agate cameo; gold mount with black enamel, Italian, Rome — Nymph and Swan
Cameo by Benedetto Pistrucci
Mount by the firm of Fortunato Pio Castellani
ca. 1830–40

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