“Seaport with the Embarkation of the Queen of Sheba”
For today, a history painting from the celebrated landscape artist, Claude Lorrain.
“Seaport with the Embarkation of the Queen of Sheba” is an oil on canvas painting by the French landscape painter, Claude Lorrain, known also as Claude. It was painted in 1648.
This painting depicts a scene from the Old Testament of the Bible. In the First Book of Kings, chapter 10, King Solomon’s wisdom was so well known. The Queen of Sheba came to visit him to see if the rumors were true. She tested him with difficult riddles and his answers showed his wisdom. After recognizing this, in return, Soloman awarded Queen Sheba with lavish gifts.
Claude depicts the famous queen, near the bottom right-hand part of the canvas. The Queen of Sheba, surrounded by a group of people, is preparing for her embarkation. She is wearing a golden crown, a pink tunic, and a blue cape. A boat awaits and a gentleman takes her hand to assist her in getting into it. A group of onlookers watch from a respectful distance.
Lorrain paints a busy urban seaport bustling with activity. In the foreground, men can be seen moving wares. The surrounding city exhibits architecture from the classical period. Columns and statues style the city, along with round towers with crenelation. The sun is just above the horizon, casting a line of light down the water to the bottom of the canvas.
This painting was commissioned with its sister piece, “Landscape with the Marriage of Isaac and Rebecca”, by the Duc de Bouillon, Frédéric Maurice de La Tour d’Auvergne. Both paintings were biblical scenes, a popular subject for history painters at the time. Though his primary love was painting pastoral scenes, Lorrain often painted famous historical characters in his art as a way to appease the public.
“Seaport with the Embarkation of the Queen of Sheba” is currently on display at the National Gallery in London, England.
For more on Claude Lorrain, please visit his short biography here.
You can find more artists to learn about here.
