Judgment of Cambyses

Judgment of Cambyses, one side of a two-part altarpiece that was commissioned by the city of Brugge and painted in 1498 by Netherlandish artist Gerard David. It is one of several major altarpieces that have sealed his reputation.

The painting relates a tale from Herodotus’s History about King Cambyses II of Persia, which deals with a corrupt judge named Sisamnes. This picture shows the judge being arrested as he sits on his throne of office, while before him, Cambyses recounts the charges against him. In the background, two figures in a doorway depict the judge accepting a bribe. The work, together with the more gruesome second part of the diptych, illustrating the sentence of flaying being carried out, was designed to be a powerful warning against dishonesty.

Typical of David’s mature works, it has a stately, monumental composition that shows Italian influence and perfectly underlines its draconian message, as well as a clever organization of space. Realistic, carefully arranged figures show the influence of his direct master, Hans Memling. There are also the beautifully rich colors for which David is famed, as well as subtly observed light effects. Above the judge, putti (cherublike children) are seen holding out a garland. Putti and garlands were common to Italian Renaissance art but seldom seen in Flemish pictures at this time.

Judgment of Cambyses pays homage to earlier Netherlandish masters such as Jan van Eyck, but, with its masterful handling of light and space, is too accomplished to be considered an imitation. Its eclectic addition of Italianate elements and its setting of the ancient Persian tale in contemporary Brugge are hallmarks of David’s artistry.