0.0 – Two Great Daniels by Artist Briton Riviere – Christian Science Interpretation by David N Baxter – 1915

DAVID BAXTER, AUTHOR ~ INTRODUCTION: One could easily imagine that to the great artist who grouped so wonderfully, and painted so beautifully, the symbols in the two famous paintings, “Daniel in the Lions' Den,” and “Daniel's Answer to the King,” it might appear unseemly that a pen so short and obscure should presume to touch things so big, so unique, and evidently intended for the refined.  But we are convinced the artist is not only a great artist, but that he is a great man also, even great enough to be pleased with an introduction to some of the “little ones” who are finding the light so signally and im¬pressively symbolized in the results of his master-strokes on canvas. The “little ones” will be delighted to know him, and in this happy thought he will, we are confident, forgive the obscure pen if it shall prove to be not profane. 
In looking through an article in the “Art Journal” for 1891 on the artist's work, we found only “Daniel” as a name, or title for the painting popular1y know as “Daniel in the Lions' Den,” and this name may possibly be a misnomer. We did not verify this in our own thought. However, the group was painted in 1872, and its companion “Daniel's Answer to the King,” in 1890, both by Briton Riviere, an English artist born in London, Aug¬ust 14, 1840.  From the “History of Modern Painting,” by Richard Muther, we quote: 
“Briton Riviere is descended from a French family which found its way into England after the revoca¬tion of the Edict of Nantes, and he is one of those painters so frequent in English art whose nature developed early. When he was four¬teen he left school, exhibited in the academy when he was eighteen, painted as a pre-Raphaelite between the ages of eighteen and twenty-two, and graduated at Oxford at seven-and-twenty .... Thus he became a painter of animals, having also an enthusiasm for Greek poets, and he has stood for a generation as an uncontested lord and master on his own peculiar ground.” 
It would be gratifying to know more definitely the artist's thought regarding his Daniels how much of the lesson we are now drawing from them was intended by him, and if he were fully aware and expected the world generally would be so greatly enriched by his work. However this may be, it seems there must have been a conscious or unconscious divine touch in the group¬ing of these great symbols which will no doubt continue to unfold to us just as the Scriptures unfold to the receptive thought, leading into the brighter light of Spiritual at¬tainments which is the great universal need. 
With this expectant thought let us look not merely upon, but into the artist's work, honestly desiring to understand the lesson it contains for all who hope to see the reality back of the symbols greeting us on every side. 
NOTE: Since writing the foregoing we have received from the Great Artist the following kindly and interesting letter with his permission to give it to the “little ones” who love his Daniel pictures. Show all