Artwork
Lot and his Daughters
Lot and his Daughters is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Joachim Wtewael. It dates from 1600 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The depiction serves as a visual interpretation of the Old Testament story, emphasizing the human elements of the characters within the divine judgment context.
Joachim Wtewael's 1600 oil painting illustrates the biblical narrative of Lot and his daughters. The composition features Lot alongside his two daughters as the central figures, directly representing the scriptural account where the family seeks refuge in a cave following the destruction of Sodom. As a work of religious art, the piece focuses on this specific moment of familial survival and the subsequent complex moral events described in Genesis.
The depiction serves as a visual interpretation of the Old Testament story, emphasizing the human elements of the characters within the divine judgment context.
Technique & Style
Created in 1600 by Joachim Wtewael, this religious painting is executed in oil paint on a canvas support. The work measures 209 cm in height and 166 cm in width. Stylistically, the composition focuses on the biblical narrative of Lot and his daughters, rendered through the artist's characteristic handling of the medium. The piece originates from the Netherlands and is currently held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.
History & Provenance
Joachim Wtewael created the oil painting Lot and his Daughters in 1600. Executed on canvas, the work was produced in the Netherlands during the artist's career. The painting depicts the biblical figures of Lot and his daughters within a religious context.
The artwork eventually entered the collection of the Hermitage Museum, where it remains held. Its exhibition history includes a presentation titled Dutch masters from the Hermitage, highlighting its status within the museum's holdings of Netherlandish art.
Context
Lot and his Daughters is a 1600 oil painting by Joachim Wtewael depicting the biblical scene of Lot and his daughters, currently housed in the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg. The work exemplifies Dutch Golden Age religious art with its intricate composition and use of oil on canvas, reflecting Wtewael's distinctive Mannerist style within the broader context of early 17th-century painting. It was featured in the exhibition 'Dutch masters from the Hermitage', underscoring its significance within the museum's collection of Northern European works.
Overview
Created in 1600 by Dutch painter Joachim Wtewael, this oil on canvas presents a compact biblical scene titled Lot and his Daughters. The composition places three figures within a densely wooded setting, the elder Lot leaning forward with a troubled expression while his two daughters sit nearby, one clutching grapes and the other wrapped in a red cloth. The work is part of the State Hermitage Museum’s collection.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Joachim Anthoniszoon Wtewael (Dutch pronunciation:; 1566 – 1 August 1638), also known as Uytewael (pronounced ), was a Dutch Mannerist painter and draughtsman, as well as a highly successful flax merchant, and town councillor of Utrecht.
