Art Notes

Daniel in the Lion’s Den is truly an inspiring story. It is one that speaks both to the power of faith and the rewards of piety. When Daniel continues to pray to the God of Israel despite a royal decree to stop, he is punished for his transgressions and thrown into a pit of wild big cats. God’s angel stayed the ferocity of the lions, however, and allowed Daniel to survive the encounter.

Many of the great masters in art have attempted to capture the drama of this scene in oil and relate the profundity of the message on canvas. Peter Paul Rubens and Briton Riviere are but two of several that impacted my appreciation of this visual narrative. I hope you enjoy my composition as I tried to tell the whole story of Daniel, from the visions he experienced before the imposition of his horrific sentence to the deliverance he received through the grace of God.

And, remember, take courage in the face of your own trials and consider that you do not have to face them alone. As always, I want to thank you for sharing my adventures in art.