Artwork
Lot and his daughters
Lot and his daughters is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Cornelius van Poelenburgh. It dates from 1638 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
The work captures three partially clothed women—two seated together and a third standing—engaged in a quiet, enigmatic moment as one pours liquid from a cup.
Cornelius van Poelenburgh’s 1638 oil painting titled *Lot and his Daughters* presents a compact, intimate scene set within a rugged landscape. The work captures three partially clothed women—two seated together and a third standing—engaged in a quiet, enigmatic moment as one pours liquid from a cup. The distant horizon features a castle, scattered trees, and a cloud‑filled sky, framing the narrative in a serene yet mysterious atmosphere.
Subject & Meaning
The composition draws on the biblical episode of Lot and his daughters, a story traditionally associated with survival and moral ambiguity after the destruction of Sodom. In Poelenburgh’s rendition, the focus rests on the daughters’ interaction, emphasizing themes of familial closeness and the act of sharing drink, which may allude to the later, more controversial aspects of the tale while maintaining a restrained, contemplative tone.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil on a modestly sized panel, the painting reflects Poelenburgh’s characteristic Italianate landscape approach, merging delicate atmospheric perspective with precise rendering of rock formations. The palette is muted, employing soft earth tones and subtle chiaroscuro to model the figures. Elements of Flemish Baroque—such as dynamic composition and careful attention to texture—are evident, yet the overall effect remains lyrical rather than overtly dramatic.
History & Provenance
Created during Poelenburgh’s Roman period, the work entered the collection of the Alte Pinakothek in Munich, where it remains on display. Its acquisition history traces back to 19th‑century European collectors who valued the artist’s small‑scale, narrative landscapes, contributing to the museum’s broader holdings of Dutch and Flemish Baroque paintings.
Context
Poelenburgh was part of a network of Dutch artists who migrated to Italy, absorbing classical motifs and local scenery while maintaining Northern European sensibilities. *Lot and his Daughters* exemplifies this cross‑cultural exchange, situating a biblical subject within a pastoral, almost idealized setting that appealed to contemporary patrons seeking both devotional content and picturesque charm.
Artist & collection
Artist
Cornelis van Poelenburgh or Cornelis van Poelenburch (1594 – 12 August 1667), was a Dutch landscape painter and draughtsman.
