Daniel in the Lions' Den (Rubens)

Daniel in the Lions' Den is a painting from around 1615 by the Flemish artist Peter Paul Rubens that is displayed in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. It depicts Daniel in the biblical story of Daniel in the lions' den. He was a Jewish prophet who was thrown into a den of lions for defying a royal decree that prohibited praying to anyone but the king. Daniel miraculously survived, protected by his unwavering faith in God.

The painting was initially owned by Dudley Carleton, 1st Viscount Dorchester. It was later presented to King Charles I of England, who displayed it in the Bear Gallery at the Palace of Whitehall. Over the centuries, the painting changed hands multiple times, eventually becoming part of the Hamilton Palace collection in Scotland before being sold to the National Gallery of Art in 1965.

Rubens' time in Italy profoundly influenced his artistic style, evident in the classical elements and lifelike representations in Daniel in the Lions' Den. The lions are life-size and contribute to the painting's dramatic impact, making viewers feel as if they are intruding upon the scene. The figure of Daniel, influenced by classical sculptures and Italian Renaissance painting, is depicted as a young man, even though the biblical account suggests he was much older.