Belshazzar’s Feast by Rembrandt: The Writing on the Wall

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The writing on the wall

In the Book of Daniel, King Belshazzar of Babylon holds a feast and drinks from sacred vessels looted from the Temple in Jerusalem. A hand appears and writes mysterious words on the wall. That night, the king dies and his kingdom falls.

Rembrandt painted the scene around 1635 to 1638. It belongs to the National Gallery in London.

A glowing hand writes in Hebrew

Glowing hand writing Hebrew letters — A glowing hand writes.

Out of a cloud of light, a hand traces Hebrew letters on the wall. Rembrandt arranged the letters in vertical columns, following a scholarly suggestion of the time that this was why the king’s wise men could not read them.

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Belshazzar's Feast hand-painted oil reproduction

Belshazzar's Feast, painted by hand

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A king turns in terror

King in a jewelled turban turning in shock — A king turns in terror.

Belshazzar twists round, eyes wide, his jewelled turban and gold cloak glittering. One arm flings back, knocking over a vessel. It is a theatrical moment of shock.

Guests frozen in alarm

Guests staring in alarm — Guests frozen in alarm.

At the left, guests stare in alarm.

Woman in red as wine spills from a golden cup — Wine spills.

At the right, a woman in red leans back as wine spills from a golden cup. Rembrandt painted the gleam of metal and the splash of liquid with great energy.

Questions about Belshazzar’s Feast

What story does it show?

Daniel 5: the mysterious writing that announces the fall of Babylon.

Where is it?

The National Gallery, London.

Why are the letters in columns?

Rembrandt followed a scholarly idea explaining why the king’s advisers could not read them.

When was it painted?

Around 1635 to 1638.

Sources and image credit

Public-domain reproduction of Belshazzar’s Feast, via Wikimedia Commons. Detail images are crops of the same image; no reconstruction or upscaling.