Lower Half of Belshazzar's Robe, for "Belshazzar's Feast" 1821 - 1826

Curator: Here we have Washington Allston's study, "Lower Half of Belshazzar's Robe, for 'Belshazzar's Feast'". Editor: It looks like a crumpled ghost. So dramatic! Such simple lines, yet it feels like a whole story is lurking in those folds. Curator: Allston was deeply interested in depicting power, prophecy, and its anxieties through his work. This fragment represents a fallen garment that reflects the moment before divine judgement. Editor: You know, it also makes me think about the weight of tradition, the way fabrics hold memories. I wonder if it represents how power is just another costume we put on? Curator: An interesting point. Considering the biblical narrative Allston was illustrating, that interpretation certainly adds another layer of meaning to our understanding. Editor: It's funny how a scrap of robe can make you feel so much. Curator: Indeed, it invites reflection on the themes of authority and destiny.