Belshazzar's Feast
1601
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1601
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Belshazzar's Feast is a 1601 ink by Crispijn van de Passe I, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This crowded scene shows a wild party in a grand room. A king sits at a table piled with plates, goblets, and a giant golden cup. Around him, guests laugh, drink, and gesture wildly—some even hold up strange objects like a severed hand. A servant pours wine while a dog sniffs at the floor. The walls are packed with shelves of books and odd carvings, and the mood feels chaotic. The text at the top hints this isn’t just any feast—it’s a moment of warning. The Latin title roughly means "The Sad End of the King’s Feast," and the scene looks like a moral lesson dressed as a party. Next, check out how this was made using engraving.
