For Muslims, Prophet Sulayman (Solomon in the Judeo-Christian tradition) is the third king of Israel, renowned for his wisdom. He was granted many gifts by God such as the ability to command the winds, but his most distinctive power was the ability to understand the languages of different animals. Here, he is seen holding a staff as he stands before the various creatures who inhabit the rivers, seas and oceans. Curiously, he is depicted in modern Javanese court dress - perhaps as a way to appear more relatable to the intended audience. The ensemble of a turban or blangkon (traditional Javanese men's headwear), fitted long jacket with a high collar, a batik sarong and pointed shoes reflect influences from Europe and the wider Islamic world.This scene is painted onto the reverse side of a piece of glass. To create the image, the artist painted details in the foreground before moving on to the background. This method, commonly referred to as "reverse glass painting", allows for the image to be viewed correctly from the other side of the glass.
