Who painted Daniel i løvekulen?

Daniel i løvekulen was painted by Otto Bache in 1872-01-01.

Where can I see Daniel i løvekulen?

Daniel i løvekulen is held by Statens Museum for Kunst.

What movement is Daniel i løvekulen?

Daniel i løvekulen is associated with Realism.

Daniel i løvekulen by Otto Bache (1872) · Meaning & Museum

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The work belongs to the religious art genre and was created for the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst, where it remains on display.

Otto Bache’s 1872 oil painting Daniel i løvekulen depicts the biblical prophet Daniel standing beside a crouching lion, a visual reference to the story of Daniel in the lions’ den where divine protection is symbolized by the animal’s tameness. The work belongs to the religious art genre and was created for the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst, where it remains on display. The lion functions as an iconographic attribute of Daniel, representing both the miraculous survival in the den and the broader theme of faith delivering the righteous from danger.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil on canvas in 1872, the work is painted in a realistic manner aligned with Academic tradition. The handling shows smooth blending in flesh and drapery, contrasted with more pronounced, directional brushwork in the lion’s mane to convey texture. Compositional focus centers on Daniel’s tranquil pose amid the lions, framed by the cavernous opening, while the animals’ bodies are arranged in a semicircle to balance the scene.

The palette relies on earthy browns and ochres for the lions, set against cooler greys in the rocky setting, with Daniel’s white and ochre garments providing a focal contrast.

The painting’s dimensions are 173.0 cm in height by 127.5 cm in width.

History & Provenance

The painting Daniel i løvekulen was created in 1872 by Otto Bache, as confirmed by both the artist’s dated work and the museum’s records.

It entered the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen, where it remains held. The work depicts the biblical figure Daniel in the lions’ den, a subject associated with religious genre painting in 19th-century Danish art.

Overview

Created in 1872 by Danish painter Otto Bache, Daniel i løvekulen is an oil work that belongs to the Realist tradition of the 19th century. The canvas portrays the biblical Daniel placed amid a group of lions and a bear, rendered with a calm, almost detached demeanor. The painting is part of the collection of Denmark’s National Gallery, Statens Museum for Kunst.

Context

The work reflects the 19th‑century Danish interest in combining moral narratives with meticulous natural observation. Bache’s broader oeuvre includes historical scenes, animal studies, and genre paintings, situating Daniel i løvekulen within his ongoing exploration of human character set against the animal world. The piece also aligns with contemporary European Realist trends that favored clear storytelling and faithful depiction of texture and light.

Artist & collection

Artist

Otto Bache

Otto Bache (21 August 1839 – 28 June 1927) was a Danish Realist painter best known for his depictions of historical scenes, animal studies, genre compositions, and portraits.