1826
paint
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Belshazzar's Feast is a 1826 paint by John Martin, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This painting shows a huge, dramatic party in a grand hall. The room is packed with people—some standing, some sitting at long tables, all dressed in fancy robes and crowns. A giant golden statue looms in the background, and the ceiling looks like it’s crashing down. Lightning flashes outside, and the whole scene is lit by a bright, eerie glow. Look closer: the king at the center is holding a goblet, and a ghostly hand is writing on the wall behind him. The artist used bold shadows and light to make everything feel intense and alive. Next, check out the technique: chiaroscuro to see how light and dark create drama.
John Martin (19 July 1789 – 17 February 1854) was an English Romanticist painter, engraver, and illustrator.
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