
Getty Museum
Border with the Queen of Sheba before King Solomon
Creator
Simon BeningFlemish Illuminator · 1483–1561
All works by this person →One of the most celebrated painters of Flanders in the 1500s, Simon Bening was hailed by Portuguese art critic Francisco da Hollanda as the greatest master of illumination in all of Europe. In addition to producing books for powerful aristocrats such as Cardinal Albrecht of Brandenburg, Bening worked for a group of international royal patrons including Emperor Charles V and Don Fernando, the Infan
More on Getty ULAN- Date
- about 1525–1530
- Medium
- Tempera colors, gold paint, and gold leaf
- Culture
- Flemish
- Department
- Manuscripts
- Institution
- Getty Museum
- Object ID
- 2cdbe185-009f-46fa-b2ea-df89d1135d50
Intrigued by reports of King Solomon's legendary wisdom, the Queen of Sheba visits him in Jerusalem, kneeling down with two of her attendants to present him with sumptuous gold and spices. Simon Bening constructed the scene as if it were taking place behind a text-panel that discusses the story of the Adoration of the Magi. This image of the Queen and her handmaidens approaching the wise king with gifts echoes that of the three kings visiting the baby Jesus seen on the facing page. Bening used this artistic strategy to help the viewer make the connection between the Old Testament and New Testament stories of visiting royalty.
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