Hamilton Palace - a virtual reconstructionhomepage
linksrediscovering the palacepalace and parksexteriorsinteriorsthe hamilton familythe long gallerytreasures of the palacebuildings in the parkdispersal and demolitionlinks to related sites
  the long gallery  
  Detail of Daniel from 'Daniel in the Lions' Den' by Sir Peter Paul Rubens, copied from 1882 Hamilton Palace souvenir sale catalogue  
                 
  Click for Scran Resource  

Formerly in Hamilton Palace, South Lanarkshire, now in The National Gallery of Art, Washington, USA

Rubens was a highly educated artist, with a good knowledge of Latin, Italian, French, German and Spanish. He studied Roman antiquities and works by Renaissance and contemporary painters, engravers and sculptors, and constantly referred to the past for subjects, compositions and ideas.

Daniel in the Lions' Den is a good example of how Rubens created a painting. Daniel's pose seems to be based on an engraving of the Penitent St Jerome by Cornelis Cort of 1573, after Girolamo Muziano, while the lions appear to be a combination of Rubens' studies of real animals and Italian bronzes of lions.

 
                 
  Although Rubens claimed to Sir Dudley Carleton that Daniel was 'Original, entirely by my own hand', the painting suggests that he involved members of his workshop. It was standard practice for Rubens to prepare drawings for others to follow and then come along later and paint or repaint key areas or simply add touches here and there to increase the effectiveness of the picture.  
                 
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
  [ related links ]              
      Click for further informationEntry in 1643 Palace inventory   Click for further informationWordworth's poem  
                 
             
                 
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
linksCopyright informationProject contributorshomepage