Belshazzar’s Feast, 1821

Video Description

Belshazzar’s Feast by John Martin is a monumental painting that illustrates a dramatic episode from the Bible. King Belshazzar of Babylon hosts a grand banquet and, in an act of arrogance, uses sacred cups that had been stolen from the Temple of Jerusalem. The celebration is suddenly interrupted when glowing words appear written on the palace wall, filling everyone with fear. No one can understand the message, until the king calls Daniel, a Jewish prisoner known for his wisdom. He explains that the words announce the end of Belshazzar’s reign and the fall of Babylon. What seemed like a night of triumph turns into the announcement of disaster. The painting captures John Martin’s dramatic style: colossal architecture, striking light, and a sense of apocalyptic spectacle. Through this work, the artist transforms an ancient biblical tale into a universal scene about human arrogance and the consequences of defying the sacred.