Artwork
Lot and his Daughters
Lot and his Daughters is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Hendrick Goltzius. It dates from 1616 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work is catalogued as a religious painting and a nude genre piece, highlighting its blend of sacred storytelling with a focus on the human form.
The painting portrays Lot in the moment of divine judgment as he and his two daughters seek refuge in Zoar, a scene drawn from Genesis 19. Goltius emphasizes the daughters' role as the carriers of the lineage that will become the Moabites and Ammonites, underscoring themes of survival and moral ambiguity within the biblical narrative. The composition combines a tender domestic interaction with the underlying tension of divine retribution, reflecting the broader religious discourse of the Counter-Reformation era.
The work is catalogued as a religious painting and a nude genre piece, highlighting its blend of sacred storytelling with a focus on the human form.
Technique & Style
The work is executed in oil paint on canvas, measuring 140 cm in height by 204 cm in width. Its surface shows a controlled handling that preserves the glossy sheen of the oil medium while allowing fine linear detail to emerge in the figures of Lot and his daughters. The composition balances dramatic chiaroscuro with a smooth, almost sculptural modeling of flesh, giving the scene a heightened emotional intensity.
These formal qualities align with the Baroque emphasis on dynamic gesture and rich materiality, reinforcing the narrative’s moral gravity.
History & Provenance
Hendrik Goltzius painted Lot and his Daughters in 1616, near the end of his career. The work is executed in oil on canvas and measures 140 × 204 cm.
The painting was once owned by Bieberfeld before entering the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, where it remains today.
Overview
Hendrik Goltzius, a Dutch artist originally from Germany, completed the oil painting Lot and his Daughters in 1616. Executed during the later phase of his career, the work belongs to his relatively brief period of painting after a long reputation as an engraver. The canvas is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection.
Context
At the time Goltzius turned to painting, the Dutch art scene was shifting toward more naturalistic and narrative-driven works. Lot and his Daughters reflects this transition, blending his Northern Mannerist background with emerging Baroque sensibilities, particularly in its use of dramatic lighting and compositional balance.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Hendrick Goltzius (German: , Dutch: ; né Goltz; January or February 1558 – 1 January 1617) was a German-born Dutch printmaker, draftsman, and painter.
