Right Hand of the Queen, for "Belshazzar's Feast" 1820 - 1828

Editor: Here we have Washington Allston’s study of a hand, titled "Right Hand of the Queen, for 'Belshazzar's Feast.'" It looks like charcoal on paper. I'm struck by how such a small sketch feels so monumental. What can you tell me about its historical context? Curator: Allston was working on a grand history painting, tapping into a long tradition of artists engaging with biblical and historical narratives to convey moral and political messages. Considering that this was for 'Belshazzar's Feast,' a story of divine judgment, how do you think this hand contributes to that narrative's power? Editor: It's tensely clenched. Perhaps it shows the Queen's anxiety during the feast, anticipating the doom to come? Curator: Precisely. Allston likely aimed to use her gesture as a focal point, embodying the anxieties and political turmoil of the time. The sketch hints at the larger work's ambition to engage with profound themes of power, faith, and societal collapse. Editor: I never thought about a single hand carrying so much cultural weight. Curator: Indeed. Allston understood the potent symbolism embedded in seemingly simple details.