LEONAERT BRAMER | SOLOMON PRAYING IN THE TEMPLE

In the family of F.C. Pawle since before 1865;

By whom sold ('Property from the Estate of F.C. Pawle'), London, Christie's, 20 March 1925, lot 44 (as L. Bramer);

There purchased by L.S. Pawle;

Thence by descent to his son, probably John C. Pawle;

Anonymous sale, London, Christie's, 18 January 1963, lot 41 (as Bramer);

With Reese Palley Inc., Atlantic City, New Jersey;

From whom purchased by a private collector, New York.

Leonaert Bramer was a prolific Dutch painter of history, religious, and genre paintings. The luminosity of the silver and golden vases at right in this nocturnal composition are a testimony to his ability to enhance the most minute detail in a painting. Such a skill would later be mastered by Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675), who was said to be Bramer's pupil.

The subject of this painting derives from 1 Kings 8:1-22, when Solomon assembles the priests and elders of Israel with the Ark of the Covenant and all the holy vessels in the Temple in Jerusalem for prayer and offerings. Though the Ark of the Covenant is not depicted, Solomon is shown kneeling in prayer before the tabernacle laden with the two stone tablets of law above him. Bramer repeated this composition in other paintings, including a larger version on panel in the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden (inv. no. 1324), and a similar sized version on canvas in a New York private collection.