Daniel in the Lions' Den
1615 National Gallery of Art
About this artwork
This monumental work, measuring nearly 13 feet wide, portrays the biblical prophet Daniel sitting among a pride of lions. It was commissioned by Sir Dudley Carleton, an English diplomat and collector, and remains one of the artist's most celebrated large-scale compositions.
Did you know?
Peter Paul Rubens was incredibly famous for his ability to paint animals, often relying on his personal menagerie to sketch lions from life to achieve this level of realism. Interestingly, he added the lions to the canvas before painting Daniel, demonstrating his methodical approach to complex compositions. The painting's sheer size and dramatic intensity were designed to impress aristocratic collectors of the 17th century.
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Daniel in the Lions' Den
Peter Paul Rubens, 1615
