King Cyrus and the Priests Show Baal to Daniel - Philips Galle

A detailed sixteenth-century engraving by Philips Galle, after Maarten van Heemskerck, depicting a scene from the Book of Daniel.

This engraving by Philips Galle depicts a scene from the apocryphal additions to the Book of Daniel, specifically the narrative of Bel and the Dragon. The composition follows a design by Maarten van Heemskerck, a prominent Dutch painter of the sixteenth century. The print illustrates the moment King Cyrus leads Daniel to the temple of the Babylonian god Baal, where priests are shown presenting offerings of food and wine to the idol. Galle, a master engraver based in Antwerp, utilised precise line work to define the architectural space and the figures within the temple. The scene is structured with a clear foreground and a receding background, typical of the period's interest in perspective. The central figure of the idol sits upon an elevated throne, surrounded by ritualistic elements, while the interaction between the King and Daniel occupies the lower right quadrant. The figures exhibit the muscular, elongated proportions often associated with the Mannerist influence on Northern European art of this era. The print serves as a visual record of the biblical narrative, capturing the tension between the pagan practices of the Babylonian priests and the presence of the prophet Daniel. The inclusion of Latin text at the bottom provides context for the viewer, identifying the subject matter and the specific biblical reference. The technical execution demonstrates the high level of craftsmanship found in the print workshops of Antwerp during the late sixteenth century, where the collaboration between designers like Heemskerck and engravers like Galle was common. This work remains a clear example of the dissemination of religious iconography through the medium of print, allowing for the widespread circulation of complex theological narratives to a broader audience.