Seaport with the Embarkation of the Queen of Sheba

Image credit: The National Gallery, London

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This painting depicts an episode from the Old Testament: the Queen of Sheba embarking on her journey to see King Solomon in Jerusalem. Crowned and dressed in red, the Queen descends the steps. The meeting was often painted, but it was unusual to depict the Queen’s embarkation. The soft warm light of sunrise typical of Claude’s idealised seascapes captures the gentle ripples of the water, undersides of the clouds and foliage, and silhouettes of the boats. The classical buildings on either side create a symmetrical and balanced scene, and reflect the many years Claude spent working in Rome. The name of the man who commissioned the painting, the Duc de Bouillon (1605–1652), is inscribed on the last step in the bottom right corner, showing his interest in the subject.

The National Gallery, London

London

Title

Seaport with the Embarkation of the Queen of Sheba

Date

1648

Medium

Oil on canvas

Measurements

H 149.1 x W 196.7 cm

Accession number

NG14

Acquisition method

Bought, 1824

Work type

Painting

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Trafalgar Square, London, Greater London WC2N 5DN England

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