Solomon sits enthroned at the center, his right arm extended in a commanding gesture, as he presides over a dramatic scene of judgment. A soldier in armor stands to the left, his muscular arm raised high as he prepares to divide an infant with a sword, while several figures behind him react with alarm and agitation. Two women kneel before the throne: the woman in yellow and blue throws her arms wide in desperate appeal, while the woman in green and red points fiercely at her rival, clutching a lifeless child upside down in her lap.

A crowd gathers on the right, with men and women in classical drapery, some clasping their hands in prayer or raising them in horror, and a small child clings to a woman’s side, looking on with curiosity. The architectural setting is grand and severe, with tall blue columns flanking Solomon’s throne and a deep red curtain behind him, creating a solemn stage for the unfolding drama. Light pours in from the left, illuminating the figures and casting strong shadows that emphasize the tension and emotional turmoil of the moment.

Poussin arranges the composition in a broad frieze, with each figure clearly separated and posed, their gestures and expressions narrating the story through movement and line. The colors are rich and harmonious, dominated by reds, blues, and golds, with the paint applied in smooth, controlled layers that reveal little of the brushwork. The subject is the biblical Judgment of Solomon, a theme of justice and wisdom, depicted here with a focus on clarity, balance, and psychological intensity.