Oil on canvas. The biblical episode depicted refers to the story of Daniel, the prophet at the court of King Darius the Mede who, for praying to his God, was condemned to be thrown into the lions' den. But God saved Daniel by sending an angel to close the mouths of the beasts, and the king pardoned Daniel, instead condemning those who had denounced him. The subject has been depicted many times in art, for the fascination linked to the story but also for its exotic flavor due to the presence of the beasts; in particular, Rubens's version of 1615 is remembered, where the prophet is depicted, naked in the pit underground, praying ardently, surrounded by a crowd of fierce lions. The work presented here instead proposes a version centered on the dialogue between the prophet and the angel, who face each other standing out with the vivid colors of their garments against the dark background of a prison; there is only one lion, crouching meekly at the feet of the angel, and therefore the spiritual and salvific dimension of the biblical event prevails. According to the famous art historian Maurizio Marini, a specialist in the painting of Caravaggio and Baroque art, who had the opportunity to view the painting years ago, the work could be attributed to Antonio Maria Vassallo (1620 -1664) for its compositional and chromatic choices. The painting, restored and relined is presented with a molding frame.
Product Condition:
Product in good condition, with small signs of wear. We try to present the real state as completely as possible with the photos. If some details are not clear from the photos, please refer to the description.
Artwork Dimensions (cm):
Height: 39
Width: 55
Depth: 2
