8.The Judgement of Solomon. Christ Before Pilate

The story is about two women who had both given birth to a child. One of the women smothered her child while sleeping and then switched the infants. When the other woman realised this in the morning, the two started arguing over the surviving child. To ascertain the truth, the King ordered a sword to be brought and the surviving child to be cut in half, so that each woman could get one half. One woman agreed, the other however begged that the child be given unharmed to the other woman. And with that Solomon was certain that the latter was the real mother of the child. He ordered that the child be left unharmed and given to the real mother.

The expression ‘Solomonic decision’, meaning a wise and fair decision made in a complicated situation, comes from this story.

The artist Johan Aken used the engraving of Dutch artist Boëtius Bolswert as an exemplar for this painting. That itself is based on a painting by Peter Paul Rubens, which the famous artist painted for the Brussels town hall courtroom.

The Jews brought Jesus Christ before governor Pontius Pilate, accusing the former of undermining state authority. Although Pilate was convinced of Christ’s innocence, he gave in to the demands of the crowd and had Jesus crucified. Then Pilate washed his hands of guilt before the crowd.

The painting reminded the councillors that a judge must be fair and cannot bow before external pressure.

The artist Johan Aken used Rembrandt’s engraving as a guide.