Focus on The Judgement of Solomon and analyze the Painting.
In Antwerp there was a similar work by Jan Massijs, but it was destroyed during one of the Spanish Furies, the one which devastated the city of Antwerp in 1576. Afterwards, Jan van Asseliers donated The Judgment of Solomon by Frans Floris as a replacement to Antwerp's City Hall (whose design is generally attributed to Floris' brother, Cornelis Floris).The painting is one of the earliest works by Floris after his return from Italy. This is reflected in the attention to details and clothing. The story, from the Old Testament, is moved to ancient Rome. Typical of Floris' early work is the overcrowded composition with figures that are rather stiffly next to each other in the foreground without any openings to the depth. They have an unmoved facial expression with no individual characteristics.Solomon's palace is in the form of a colonnaded hall overlooking ancient ruins. The figures were inspired by Raphael, with whom Frans Floris became acquainted in Rome. The painter tried to reproduce the ancient architecture and clothing as accurately as possible on the basis of his studies from Italian albums of drawings. From thence the dating of the painting to 1545-1550 (ca. 1547), when the artist had just returned from Rome.The painting is currently housed at the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp.
Antwerp's City Hall Solomon Royal Museum of Fine Arts Raphael Antwerp Spanish Furies in 1576 Jan van Asseliers Rome ancient Rome Jan Massijs Italy Judgment of Solomon Cornelis Floris Frans Floris