Belshazzar's Feast

Belshazzar's Feast, an acclaimed oil painting by British artist John Martin (1789–1854), exemplifies the grandeur of Romanticism with its dramatic depiction of a biblical scene. First exhibited in 1821 at the British Institution, it garnered immense popularity, prompting protective barriers due to crowds. The work is celebrated as a notable religious painting, illustrating the biblical story of Belshazzar's feast and divine judgment. Martin's ability to translate literary references into vivid visual reality was praised, and he produced mezzotint engravings based on the piece. Today, the original resides in a private collection, with smaller sketches housed in American museums.