King Solomon and His Court
description: Painting of King Solomon's seated on a gold throne above a congregation of creatures and beings. The image was likely intended to demonstrate the King's influence over the realm of animals, angels, celestial beings and demons. The horned human-like creatures bear a strong resemblance to Islamic artistic representations of the Jinn, a demon or genie, a mythological invisible evil force. In Islamic tales and within the Qur'an, Solomon is referenced as the ruler of the Jinn.
source: Hyderabad, Deccan, India
publisher: Brooklyn Museum
date: 1875-1900
contributor: Brooklyn Museum; Gift of James S. Hays
rights: Brooklyn Museum
format: photograph of watercolor prototype
language: Persian