Daniel Interpreting to Belshazzar the Writing on the Wall
- Date
- 1775
- Material
- Oil on canvas
- made in
- London, Greater London, England, Europe
- Classification
- Paintings
- Collection
- American Art
- Current Location
- On View, Gallery 236E
- Dimensions
- 50 3/4 × 73 1/2 in. (128.9 × 186.7 cm)
framed (approx.): 68 × 92 1/2 in. (172.7 × 235 cm) - Credit Line
- Funds given by Mr. and Mrs. John Peters MacCarthy and the Edwin and Betty Greenfield Grossman Endowment; Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John Alden Sears, by exchange
- Rights
- Public Domain
- Object Number
- 485:2018
NOTES
This painting tells a dramatic biblical story from the 6th century BCE. Babylonian king Belshazzar, in blue robes, committed an act of sacrilege by using sacred Jewish vessels during a lavish feast. When mysterious writing appeared on the wall, the prophet Daniel, clad in brownish-red robes, interpreted the message to foretell the downfall of the king’s empire. Within hours, Belshazzar was dead.
Born in rural Pennsylvania, Benjamin West trained in Italy and became Historical Painter to King George III. Exhibiting the painting in 1776, just months before American colonials declared independence, West hoped that Daniel’s warning to a prideful king would encourage reconciliation between Britain and the American colonies.
Born in rural Pennsylvania, Benjamin West trained in Italy and became Historical Painter to King George III. Exhibiting the painting in 1776, just months before American colonials declared independence, West hoped that Daniel’s warning to a prideful king would encourage reconciliation between Britain and the American colonies.
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