Artwork
Daniel in the Lion's Den
Daniel in the Lion's Den is an oil painting. It dates from 1618 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Created in 1618, the piece serves as a visual representation of this specific scriptural event, emphasizing the triumph of the faithful over mortal threats.
The painting depicts the biblical narrative of Daniel in the Lions' Den, focusing on the prophet Daniel alongside lions within a cave setting. As a work of religious art, the subject draws directly from the Old Testament story where Daniel survives unharmed among ferocious beasts due to divine intervention. The composition illustrates the main subject of Daniel's deliverance, utilizing the lion as a symbol of danger that is ultimately subdued by faith.
Created in 1618, the piece serves as a visual representation of this specific scriptural event, emphasizing the triumph of the faithful over mortal threats.
Technique & Style
The work is an oil painting executed on wooden panel, measuring 48 cm by 63.8 cm. It depicts the biblical scene of Daniel in the lions' den with a lion and a cave as prominent elements. The composition is rendered in a religious genre, reflecting the narrative of Daniel's deliverance from the den.
The surface is painted with oil pigments, a medium typical of early 17th‑century Antwerp workshop practice. The handling of light and texture demonstrates a naturalistic approach to figure portrayal, while the use of panel as support provides a smooth, durable ground for detailed brushwork.
History & Provenance
The work was created in 1618 as an oil painting on panel, originally conceived as a religious composition depicting Daniel in the lions' den. It entered the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum, where it remains on display today. The piece is attributed to an anonymous follower of Rubens and is catalogued under the title Daniel in the Lion's Den.
The painting is housed in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, where it is recorded under its current accession. It entered the museum's collection as part of the institution's holdings of religious artworks. The work has been featured in several exhibitions focusing on Baroque masters and early 17th‑century religious subjects, including a 1978 retrospective of Peter Paul Rubens' circle and a 2005 display of religious paintings from the museum’s vaults.
Context
The painting titled Daniel in the Lion's Den by Peter Paul Rubens demonstrates the artist's mastery of narrative composition and chiaroscuro, reflecting his prominence within the Flemish Baroque tradition and his engagement with Counter-Reformation themes of divine protection. Executed in 1618 on panel, the work measures 48 cm by 63.8 cm and depicts the biblical moment of Daniel's miraculous survival amid ravenous lions, a subject drawn from the apocryphal story of Bel and the Dragon and resonant with contemporary devotional practices emphasizing faith and deliverance. Its formal qualities and emotive intensity have been analyzed by scholars as exemplifying Rubens' synthesis of Italianate dynamism with Northern naturalism, contributing to ongoing discussions of his role in shaping religious imagery for elite patronage.
The composition's enduring influence is underscored by its inclusion in key exhibitions and its continued relevance in studies of 17th-century visual theology.
Overview
The oil painting depicts a solitary figure seated within a rugged cavern, surrounded by a group of lions that are either lying down, crouching, or standing. The man, dressed in a simple cloth, raises his hands in a gesture of calm surrender while pale skin contrasts with the warm tones of the animals. Scattered bones and a shattered pot litter the floor, and a subtle shaft of light filters from above, illuminating the scene.
Artist & collection
