Artwork
Lot and his daughters (Genesis 19:30-38)
Lot and his daughters (Genesis 19:30-38) is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Frans Francken the Younger. It dates from 1601 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts the biblical episode from Genesis 19:30-38, in which Lot and his two daughters flee the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
The painting depicts the biblical episode from Genesis 19:30-38, in which Lot and his two daughters flee the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. After taking refuge in a cave, the daughters, fearing they are the last people on earth, intoxicate their father and conceive children by him. The work represents a religious genre scene centered on Lot as the main subject.
The use of oil on copper leaf support suggests a refined, detailed execution typical of small-scale Flemish cabinet paintings.
Technique & Style
Frans Francken the Younger executed Lot and his daughters in 1601 as an oil painting on a copper support. The work combines oil paint with copper leaf, a technique that utilizes the metal's reflective properties to enhance the luminosity of the religious scene. Measuring 68 cm in height and 86 cm in width, the piece presents a compact yet detailed composition typical of the artist's small-scale religious genre works.
The copper support contributes to the painting's formal qualities, offering a smooth, rigid ground that allows for precise brushwork and vibrant color application.
History & Provenance
The painting Lot and his daughters was created in 1601 by Frans Francken the Younger. It is executed in oil paint on copper leaf and measures 68 centimeters in height by 86 centimeters in width. The work depicts the biblical scene from Genesis 19:30-38 involving Lot and his daughters. It is part of the collection at the Museo del Prado.
The painting is held in the Museo del Prado, as recorded in its collection data. It is catalogued as a religious work by Frans Francken the Younger, executed in oil paint with copper leaf in 1601, and is identified there as depicting Lot and his daughters.
No specific inventory or accession number is provided in the available sources, and no exhibition history is documented.
Overview
Created in 1601 by Frans Francken the Younger, this oil painting illustrates the biblical episode of Lot and his daughters from Genesis 19:30‑38. Executed in the Flemish Baroque style, the work is part of the Prado Museum’s collection and reflects Francken’s broader interest in religious narratives and the nascent genre of cabinet‑size collector pieces.
Context
Frans Francken the Younger belonged to a prolific artistic dynasty and was active during a period when Flemish painters were integrating Italianate influences with local traditions. This painting exemplifies his ability to blend narrative detail with the intimate scale favored by collectors of the early 17th century.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Frans Francken the Younger (1581, Antwerp – 6 May 1642, Antwerp) was a Flemish painter and the best-known and most prolific member of the large Francken family of artists.
