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Daniel in the Lion's Den

The painting was executed in London, possibly after the artist's return from a trip to Italy, and first exhibited at the Royal Academy Annual Exhibition of 1780.

The lion was probably painted from the life as Graham is known to have made studies of wild animals, including lions and tigers, which were kept in a menagerie at the Tower of London. The donkey was certainly painted from the life.

Sir Thomas Lawrence was familiar with the work and commented favourably on it.

The painting was published as a mezzotint print engraved by W Hudson and published by Bull & Jeffryes, Ludgate Hill, London, on 1792-01-01.

The print carried the Biblical reference for the picture's inspiration; Kings 1: 13.28.

The painting ended up in a private Scottish Collection from where it was offered at auction in Edinburgh in 1859 from where it was purchased by the RSA for £8.8/-.