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Esther before Ahasuerus
GuercinoEurope, Baroque (1590-1750)
University of Michigan Museum of Art
Ann Arbor, United States
Details
- Title: Esther before Ahasuerus
- Creator: Guercino
- Creator Lifespan: 1591/1666
- Creator Nationality: Italian
- Creator Gender: Male
- Creator Birth Place: Cento, Italy
- Date Created: Europe, Baroque (1590-1750)
- Location: Ferrara, Italy
- Physical Dimensions: w217 x h159.6 (work)
- Label Copy: In this painting, the Baroque master Guercino depicts a climactic moment from the biblical Book of Esther, when the Jewish heroine risks death to save her people. To appear without summons before Ahasuerus, the king of Persia, was a capital offense. But an even more threatening royal decree compelled Esther to enter the presence of the king, who was her husband: at the suggestion of a wicked minister, Ahasuerus had proclaimed that every Jew in the realm would be slaughtered on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month of that year. In this depiction, Esther approaches Ahasuerus to convince him to rescind his command, but, overcome by fear, she faints. Moved by compassion, Ahasuerus leans forward and extends his scepter, indicating that he forgives her transgression. Guercino portrays the high emotions with consummate dignity and imparts an arresting timelessness to this scene of one woman's courage.
- Type: Painting
- External Link: http://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1963-sl-2.45/1963_2.45.JPG?lasttype=boolean;lastview=thumbnail;resnum=1;sel9=ic_exact;size=20;sort=relevance;start=1;subview=detail;view=entry;rgn1=musart_an;select1=starts;q1=1963%2F2.45
- Medium: oil on canvas
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