The greek historiographer Herodotus (Histories V, 25) passed down the story of the judgement of the Persian King Kambyses to us. He convicted the judge Sisamnes of corruption and had him flayed alive as punishment. He then stretched the skin over the judge's chair and ordered Sisamnes' son Otanes to
The greek historiographer Herodotus (Histories V, 25) passed down the story of the judgement of the Persian King Kambyses to us. He convicted the judge Sisamnes of corruption and had him flayed alive as punishment. He then stretched the skin over the judge's chair and ordered Sisamnes' son Otanes to take his place on the chair as the new judge.
By employing simultaneous depiction in this painting Cranach linked the flaying of Sisamnes, which is illustrated in the background, with a scene in the foreground showing the judge Otanes sitting on his throne covered by a baldachin made of his father's hide. The judge alone wears a turban, distinguishing him as an historical figure, whereas the other men and women present in the courtroom are in contemporary dress. A man gestures angrily and attempts to justify himself in front of the judge who points a critical finger. Two bearded elderly men each explain the judgement of the court to a group of women.
[see Elke A. Werner, Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 203, no. III.23]
- Attribution
- Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder
Attribution
Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder | [Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten, Berlin - Brandenburg, revised 2011] |
- Production date
- about 1540 - 1545
Production date
about 1540 - 1545 | [Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten, Berlin - Brandenburg, revised 2011] |
- Dimensions
- Dimensions of support: 209.4 x 107.1 cm
Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 209.4 x 107.1 cm
[Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten, Berlin - Brandenburg, revised 2011]
- Signature / Dating
none
- Owner
- Stiftung Preussische Schlösser und Gärten Berlin-Brandenburg
- Repository
- Grunewald hunting lodge
- Location
- Grunewald
- CDA ID
- DE_SPSG_GKI1188
- FR (1978) Nr.
- FR-none
- Persistent Link
- https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SPSG_GKI1188/