Solomon Praying to False Gods

Luca Giordano is a leading late 17th century Naples artist, who also extensively worked in Spain. Thanks to his incredibly fast manner of painting and the ability to change his style according to the needs of the commissioners, he gained the nicknames "Luca the Fast" (Luca Fa Presto) or "The Thunderbolt" (Fulmine).
The painting "Solomon Praying to False Gods" is based on the Old Testament (I Kings 11: 3-8) and refers to the mature stage of the artist's work. The work also has a sketch showing a golden calf placed on an altar. In the completed composition, Luca Giordano abandons such a specific reference, generalizing the scene. In the centre of the painting, Solomon has fallen on his knees, holding a smoky incense bowl in his hand. Countless wives gather around him, prompting him to take this step of delusion.
The composition is heavily Baroque, the bodies strong, even massive. One can see the area division with a diagonal line that is typical for Baroque, which in this case begins in the upper left corner of the painting and ends in the lower right corner. The painting is a classic example of how a chaotic element can be balanced by following the Baroque principles of organizing the space.