Willem de Poorter is known primarily as a painter of biblical and mythological scenes. It is thought that he was born in Haarlem, where he spent much of his career. Though little is known definitively about his formal training, the influence of Rembrandt is evident in his early work which suggests a likely apprenticeship. de Poorter’s pupils include Salomon Koninck and Gerbrandt van den Eeckhout. The Idolatry of Solomon depicts King Solomon, son of David and Bathsheba, worshipping the idols of other gods, a sin for which the Lord proclaimed that his kingdom would be divided upon his death. A drawing by Rembrandt of this subject dates from 1637. The small scale and darkness of the architectural setting are typical of de Poorter’s work. A signed painting of the same subject by de Poorter can be found in Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum.