Daniel in the Lion's den

Religion and Spirituality

Daniel in the Lion's Den

by Briton Rivière, 1872

Describe:

Analyze:

Interpret:

- Barefoot Man in black (Daniel) with his hands tied in the back stands before seven lions, bowing his head and
- all lions but biggest one with the mane look fierce and are spitting and baring teeth, presumably growling
- bones and piece of meat in foreground
- plain yellow tinted ground, brown-yellow walls
- everything tinted yellow
- farthest part of the painting cast in shadow
- yellow and black color scheme
- actual lines: cracks in wall, bones, black robe, Daniel, most of lions' figures
- implied lines: lion's mane
- edge lines: shadows

- unity In yellow tint
- eye is drawn to Daniel first, due to contrast of black against yellow, then to biggest lion who seems to be staring right at Daniel, then to other lions, then shadows
- diagonal lines in the walls point back and create depth
- curves on the lions, with exception of the big lion cause the lions to appear in motion
- straight lines and posture makes Daniel stand very still
- big lion is framed by three lions on each side

I believe that Riviere was trying to shed some light, pun intended, on the famous story of Daniel in the lion's den by creating a sense of God's presence and influence. All the lions except the one in the middle are going wild, pawing and growling. The lion in the middle is looking straight at Daniel and is calm by God's presence. The soft yellow light casting over the figures represents God's calming presence. Daniel bows his head humbly and wears simple clothes, in respect for God.