Who painted Belshazzar's Feast?

Belshazzar's Feast was painted by John Martin in 1826.

Where can I see Belshazzar's Feast?

Belshazzar's Feast is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Belshazzar's Feast?

Belshazzar's Feast is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Belshazzar's Feast

John Martin , 1826

Belshazzar's Feast is a paint print by the Romanticist artist John Martin. It dates from 1826 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

John Martin’s 1826 print *Belshazzar’s Feast* is a hand‑coloured mixed‑media intaglio that depicts the biblical banquet of Babylon’s king. The composition fills a vast interior space with a throng of richly dressed figures, a towering golden statue, and a collapsing ceiling, all illuminated by an eerie, almost supernatural glow.

Subject & Meaning

The scene captures the moment described in the Book of Daniel when a divine hand writes a warning on the palace wall while King Belshazzar lifts a goblet in revelry. The juxtaposition of opulent celebration with the ominous inscription underscores themes of hubris, divine judgment, and the fleeting nature of earthly power.

Technique & Style

Martin employed a complex intaglio process, combining line engraving with aquatint and hand‑applied colour to achieve rich tonal variation. His use of chiaroscuro heightens the drama, with stark contrasts between deep shadows and the luminous, almost phosphorescent light that outlines the figures and the looming statue.

History & Provenance

Produced during Martin’s most prolific period, the print was issued in the wake of his popular large‑scale religious canvases. It circulated widely in early‑19th‑century Britain, appealing to a public fascinated by grand historical and biblical narratives, and it remains in several museum collections today.