De Nicaula: reyna de arabia · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: De Nicaula: reyna de arabia
Period: 1450-1500;
Geographic: North Africa; Jerusalem; Egypt; Ethiopia
Description: This engraving depicts Nicaula, the queen of Ethiopia, on the right-hand side of the engraving shaking hands with king Solomon of Jerusalem. We know that these figures are Nicaula and Solomon as their names are engraved beside their heads to identify them. Nicaula, as Boccaccio explains, was incredibly wise and wanted to hear and listen to the wisdom and intellect of Solomon. She had traveled from Ethiopia to Jerusalem to meet him. This engraving depicts their first meeting. Behind Nicaula is presumably one of her servants, who is carrying a balsam tree. The tree was one of many gifts that Nicaula had given to Solomon.
Image Creator: Anonymous (Engraver)
Type: Text; Woodcut Engraving
Identifier: mta:16667
Language: spa
Source Name: De Las Mujeres Ilustres [On Famous Women]
Parent Collection: 1494 Mujeres Ilustres; 1494 Mujeres Ilustres
Image: mta_16667_OBJ.png
Collection: Early Modern Women
Subject: Important Queens; Famous Women; Nicaula; Solomon; Wisdom; Important Women