The Judgment of Solomon, after Raphael
Original title: The Judgment of Solomon, after Raphael
kurzbeschreibung
This drawing by Biagio Pupini, made between 1511 and 1551, reproduces the Judgment of Solomon after a painting by Raphael. Charcoal, brush, and gray wash, accented with white highlights, are set on blue paper. The biblical moment when Solomon recognizes the true mother is captured here.
Description
Solomon sits at the center, surrounded by several figures. To his left an angel with a sword stands, touching a woman who holds a child in her arms. On the right, another woman with a child leans forward. Additional figures appear in the background, looking in various directions. The arrangement feels animated and draws attention to Solomon and the angel. Gray dominates the palette, with white and blue providing accents; the diffuse light creates a tense atmosphere.
Context
The Italian Biagio Pupini, a painter and draftsman of the Renaissance, worked in Bologna and Rome. This sheet copies a painting by Raphael from about 1518–1520, now in the Vatican Pinacoteca. Such drawings often served as models for prints or as studies for original works. Pupini likely made this sheet during his stay in Rome, where he encountered Raphael's works.
Impact
Clearly structured and with effective lighting, the sheet conveys the biblical tension. Soft shading and white highlights give the scene plastic depth and draw the viewer in. The work feels both calm and expressive, as is typical of Renaissance art.
Technique
Charcoal and brush, combined with gray wash and white highlights on blue paper, define the execution. This interplay allows precise contours and flowing transitions. The blue tone of the paper provides the base against which gray and white values stand out clearly.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)