Artwork
Lot and his Daughters
Lot and his Daughters is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Jan Brueghel, the elder. It is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
Jan Brueghel the Elder’s oil painting *Lot and his Daughters* presents a dramatic biblical episode set against a bleak, smoky horizon. The composition places the three principal figures on a rocky outcrop before a burning city, while a murky sky and distant water complete the scene. The work belongs to the collection of Munich’s Alte Pinakothek.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas illustrates the Genesis narrative in which Lot and his two daughters flee the destruction of Sodom. The figures are rendered in contemporary dress, emphasizing their humanity amid catastrophe. The inclusion of a white dog and a dark animal adds symbolic layers, hinting at loyalty and foreboding within the chaotic aftermath.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil, the painting employs a muted palette of blues, yellows, and pinks for the clothing, contrasted with the charred tones of the background. Brueghel’s handling of atmospheric smoke and flickering flames demonstrates his command of light effects, while the detailed rendering of the rocky foreground reflects his Flemish Baroque attention to naturalistic detail.
History & Provenance
Created in the early 17th century, the work reflects Brueghel’s collaborative environment, notably his frequent partnerships with Peter Paul Rubens. After remaining in private hands for centuries, the painting entered the Alte Pinakothek’s holdings, where it has been displayed as part of the museum’s Flemish Baroque collection.
Context
Brueghel’s oeuvre spans landscape, still life, and religious subjects, positioning him as a versatile figure in Flemish Baroque art. *Lot and his Daughters* aligns with contemporary interests in dramatic biblical scenes, while its urban devastation mirrors the period’s fascination with moralizing narratives of divine judgment.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jan Brueghel the Elder ( BROY-gəl, US also BROO-gəl; Dutch: ; 1568 – 13 January 1625) was a Flemish painter and draughtsman.
