Artwork
Daniel in the Lions' Den
Daniel in the Lions' Den is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Peter Paul Rubens. It is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
Daniel in the Lions' Den is a painting executed in oil paint, depicting a scene from the biblical Book of Daniel.
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows the prophet Daniel calmly seated among lions, some of which are lying down or standing nearby. He holds a scroll, lost in thought. The scene conveys a miraculous moment where Daniel is spared by the lions, highlighting the biblical narrative's themes of faith and divine intervention.
Technique & Style
The artwork employs chiaroscuro, a technique using strong contrasts between light and dark to create a dramatic effect. The dark, swirling background evokes a stormy sky, while the figures in the foreground are rendered with rich color and texture, characteristic of the Flemish Baroque style.
History & Provenance
Although attributed to Sir Peter Paul Rubens, a leading figure of the Flemish Baroque tradition, the painting's date of 1711 is inconsistent with Rubens' active period in the early 17th century, suggesting a potential discrepancy in the attribution or date.
Artist & collection
Artist
Sir Peter Paul Rubens ( ROO-bənz; Dutch: ; 28 June 1577 – 30 May 1640) was a Flemish artist and diplomat.
