Indian. <em>King Solomon and His Court</em>, 1875–1900. Opaque watercolor and gold on paper, sheet: 19 11/16 x 11 7/8 in.  (50.0 x 30.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of James S. Hays, 59.205.16 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 59.205.16_IMLS_SL2.jpg)

King Solomon and His Court

Artist:Indian

Medium: Opaque watercolor and gold on paper

Geograhical Locations:

Dates:1875–1900

Dimensions: sheet: 19 11/16 x 11 7/8 in. (50.0 x 30.2 cm) image: 11 3/8 x 8 3/4 in. (28.9 x 22.2 cm)

Collections:

Accession Number: 59.205.16

Image: 59.205.16_IMLS_SL2.jpg,

Catalogue Description:
Solomon is seated on a gold bejeweled throne smelling a flower in the midst of all manner of beasts and beings, both real and fantastic. Nearest to the throne rows of angels face Solomon and peacocks fan their tails. In the foreground a turbaned figure, perhaps a saintly donor, is seated in front of his crudely painted servant. Despite the alternately garish and muddy palette, the array of animals enlivens this painting. Depictions of the Court of Solomon enjoyed great popularity in seventeenth-century Ottoman painting. The vogue appears to have spread from Turkey to the Deccan. Inscription: On mount above picture, in Persian, in black ink, in nastaliq script: "Hazrat hanat Sulaiman 'Ali nababan [?] alaihim al-salwat wa al-salam."

Brooklyn Museum