Daniel in the lion's den c. 1867

Victor Müller made this drawing called Daniel in the Lion's Den, but we don't know exactly when. It depicts a scene from the Hebrew Bible, where the prophet Daniel is miraculously saved from being devoured by lions because of his faith in God. The image is composed with careful attention to visual codes and historical associations, typical of its time. Müller, a German artist associated with the late Nazarene movement, aimed to revive Christian themes in art, often drawing inspiration from the Bible and other classical literature. In the drawing, Daniel kneels in prayer, an angel intervening to protect him from the lions. The setting is a dark den, creating a sense of drama and divine intervention. To fully appreciate this drawing, we must see the artist as embedded in the religious, political and institutional history of 19th century Germany. Art historians consult a variety of sources, including religious texts, historical records, and contemporary criticism.