Belshazzar's Vision 1641 - 1678

"Belshazzar's Vision" (1641-1678), an oil on canvas by Samuel van Hoogstraten (1627-1678), depicts the biblical story of Belshazzar, the last king of Babylon, during a feast. The painting, housed at the SMK - Statens Museum for Kunst, captures the moment when a ghostly hand appears writing a mysterious message on the wall, foreshadowing the fall of Babylon. The dramatic scene, with its rich detail and vibrant colors, is characteristic of the Dutch Golden Age of art. This work exemplifies Hoogstraten's ability to create both a sense of grandeur and a palpable atmosphere of impending doom.