The Queen of Sheba Visits King Solomon.

(ETHIOPIA).

Ethiopia

mid-20th century

Illuminated manuscript, painted in multi-colors, on large shaped parchment skin. Laid down and framed.

Portrayed through 48 small, framed images that include narration written in Amharic calligraphic script, this painting depicts the journey of the Queen of Sheba to meet King Solomon in Jerusalem. This traditional Ethiopian story is detailed in the religious text the Kebra Nagast. The Queen of Sheba was an Ethiopian named Makeda who visited King Solomon and after returning to the Northern Ethiopian city of Aksum, gave birth to Menilek, Solomon’s son. A grown Menilek later visited Solomon and absconded with the Ark of the Covenant, which, according to Ethiopian tradition, resides in a church in Aksum to this day. The imperial family of Ethiopia claim its dynastic origin directly from the offspring of the Queen of Sheba by King Solomon and thus at the top of this illuminated vellum sheet appears the Lion of Judah clutching a flag bearing the colors of Ethiopia. A version of this scene painted by Afewerq Mangesha is housed in the British Museum, London and another is in the collection of Dr. Axel Freiherr von Blomberg (see The Jews of Ethiopia, Catalogue of The Jewish Museum / Beth Hatefutsoth (1986), front cover).