Esther before Ahasuerus

GuercinoEurope, Baroque (1590-1750)

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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