Susanna and the Elders

Lorenzo Lotto's Susanna and the Elders (1517) is a painting that showcases his developing skill as a narrative artist. The story of Susanna, found in the biblical apocryphal writings, tells of a pious and beautiful woman in Babylon who was falsely accused of adultery by two lustful elders. When they attempted to force themselves upon her and she refused, they conspired to have her condemned to death. However, the wise Daniel intervened, cross-examining the elders separately and exposing their lies through their contradictory accounts of where Susanna was found. This led to Susanna's salvation and the execution of the false witnesses. Lotto's painting captures this dramatic biblical tale.12