SACRED ART IN 100 WORDS

The Dream of Solomon
Luca Giordano
1694 – 1695
Museo del Prado

The scene unfolds upon billows of clouds. We are captivated by the image of God the Father. His outstretched arms symbolize His unfailing providence. Notice the ray of wisdom that travels from the Father to the serene king. Above the king, the artist depicts the Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom. In her left hand, she holds a Lamb seated on a book. It is reminiscent of the Lamb of God and the fulfillment of the scriptures. In her right hand, the Minerva holds a shield bearing the symbol of the Holy Spirit. Solomon chose the difficult right over the easier wrong. He chose wisdom because he knew that if God was with him, nobody could stand against him. To Solomon, ‘the fear of the Lord was the beginning of wisdom.’

– Archdiocesan Heritage Museum