Daniel in the Lions' Den and the Vision of the Four Beasts, Mortier circa 1700

This original copper engraving from Pieter Mortier's illustrated Bible, published in Amsterdam circa 1700, shows two Old Testament scenes on one sheet. The subjects are Daniel 6, Daniel in the lions' den, and Daniel 7, Daniel's vision of the four beasts. It is plate 124 of the series, a fine example of Dutch Baroque biblical engraving with the upper and lower compositions each set in its own engraved frame.

The upper scene illustrates Daniel chapter 6, verse 16, in which Daniel, condemned for praying to his God against the decree of Darius, is cast into the den of lions, and the lions do him no harm because God has shut their mouths.

The lower scene takes Daniel chapter 7, Daniel's dream of the four great beasts rising from the sea, the lion with eagle's wings, the bear, the four headed leopard and the terrible fourth beast with iron teeth and ten horns.

This copper engraving comes from the illustrated Bible published in Amsterdam by Pieter Mortier around 1700, a landmark of Dutch Baroque book illustration that set more than four hundred biblical scenes before the reader. Each sheet pairs two episodes, framed like pictures on a wall and headed by engraved cartouches with the chapter and verse and captions in Dutch and French. The plate is signed B. Picart inv. for the designer Bernard Picart and A. Reinhard fecit for the engraver, with the imprint P. Mortier edit. cum Privil. The project brought together many of the most accomplished artists in the Netherlands, among them Gerard Hoet, Arnold Houbraken and Bernard Picart, and its theatrical compositions and rich tonal engraving show Dutch Baroque printmaking at its most confident.

Printed on laid paper with full margins and a blank verso, the engraving is uncolored, as issued. Framed in a simple dark or gilt moulding with a generous mount, a Mortier Bible sheet makes a handsome feature in a study, reading room or place of worship, and collectors often build themed groups around a single book of the Bible or a favorite figure.

The sheet is in good condition for its age, with light toning, a few spots and small chips and creases in the margins; the image itself is clean and strong.