Artist statement, Evoking Angels
King Solomon, the son of David, King of Israel, was an infamous and legendary monarch and magician of the 10 century B. C. He was renowned for his wisdom and revered for what was believed to be supernatural powers.
The Webster’s dictionary definition of science is “the attainment of knowledge through practice and study as well as the creation of a realm of systematized knowledge.” In this sense King Solomon could be referred to as a scientist of his day.
Today’s scientific method is typically or most often applied to hypothesis in relation to the natural world. King Solomon, indeed, was regarded by his contemporaries as possessing masterful knowledge, not the natural forces of the physical universe, but the supernatural.
The Key of Solomon, a magical textbook containing the incantations, ceremonies and experiments of King Solomon, is considered by some authorities on occult sciences to be a fountainhead and storehouse of Cabalistic magic as well as the origin of much of the ceremonial magic of medieval times. Partial versions exist, many of which are housed in the British Museum in various languages and in numerous manuscripts. These are of unknown but considerable antiquity.
The Key of Solomon is the inspiration and point of departure for this group of images.