Daniel in the Lions’ Den by Sir Peter Paul Rubens

Painting showing Daniel in a cave surrounded by lions.
Sir Peter Paul Rubens (Flemish, 1577 – 1640 ), Daniel in the Lions’ Den, c. 1614/1616, oil on canvas, Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund

So who’s this big naked guy sitting around with a bunch of lions? Meet Daniel, a favorite counselor to the Persian king Darius. Daniel has made some powerful enemies which is how he got here. We’ll find out who ends up being the lions’ breakfast and how paintings like this allowed Rubens to become a successful diplomat.

We’ll also hear about how a painting the owners thought was just a copy and maintenance headache became one of the most highly praised pieces in the Gallery’s collection.

SHOW NOTES

“A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas

Episode theme is Fugue in G minor, “Little”, BWV 578, composed by Johann Sebastian Bach and performed by the Skidmore College Orchestra. Courtesy of musopen.org

Sir Peter Paul Rubens information
https://www.nga.gov/collection/artist-info.1847.html

Daniel in the Lions’ Den information
https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.50298.html#overview

National Zoo Lion Cam

Reviewing Committee information
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reviewing_Committee_on_the_Export_of_Works_of_Art

Slow Art Day

Recommended Reading

Master of Shadows: The Secret Diplomatic Career of the Painter Peter Paul Rubens by Mark Lamster

The Return of the Prodigal Son – Bartolomé Esteban Murillo

Painting of "The Prodigal Son"
Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (Spanish, 1617 – 1682 ), The Return of the Prodigal Son, 1667/1670, oil on canvas, Gift of the Avalon Foundation 1948.12.1

This enormous, dramatic painting by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo focuses on the emotional homecoming in the Biblical story of “The Prodigal Son” in which youth and money make a bad combination.

Murillo painted this as one of eight paintings for a charitable hospital in Seville and we’ll find how the king of Spain’s top official tried to “borrow” it to place in a royal museum. We’ll also discover its connection to Napoleon Bonaparte and a guy nicknamed “Joey Bottles.”

SHOW NOTES

“A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas

Episode theme is “Adagio in G minor” composed by Tomaso Albinoni/Remo Giazotto and performed by Noh Donghwan. Courtesy of musopen.org

The Prodigal Son information
https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.34956.html   

“Joey Bottles” article
https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/26/nyregion/new-jersey/26bonapartenj.html

Slow Art Day http://www.slowartday.com

Recommended Reading

Spanish Paintings of the Fifteenth through Nineteenth Centuries (PDF)