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Esther, Ahasuerus, and Haman
Jan Steenc. 1668
The Cleveland Museum of Art
Cleveland, United States
Esther, the wife of the Persian king Ahasuerus, effectively concealed her Jewish identity until the prime minister Haman hatched a plot to annihilate the kingdom’s Jews. To save her people Esther persuades the king (at the center) to rescind his order. He then turns against Haman, who slumps in his seat, aware of his sudden fall from power and his bleak future.
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Details
- Title: Esther, Ahasuerus, and Haman
- Creator: Jan Steen (Dutch, 1626–1679)
- Date Created: c. 1668
- Physical Dimensions: Framed: 96.5 x 119.5 x 11 cm (38 x 47 1/16 x 4 5/16 in.); Unframed: 70 x 93 cm (27 9/16 x 36 5/8 in.)
- Type: Painting
- Rights: CC0
- External Link: https://clevelandart.org/art/1964.153
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Fun Fact: At the center of this biblical scene, Steen included elements of a typical Dutch still life: a <em>Roemer</em> glass, a half-peeled lemon, and a blue-and-white porcelain dish.
- Department: European Painting and Sculpture
- Culture: Netherlands
- Credit Line: John L. Severance Fund
- Collection: P - Netherlandish-Dutch
- Accession Number: 1964.153
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