Curatorial Notes
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.
Artwork Identification
Title Esther, Ahasuerus, and Haman
Title (PT) Ester, Assuero e Hamã
Title (ES) Ester, Asuero y Amán
Artist Jan Steen
Artist Bio Jan Steen (Dutch, 1626–1679)
Date c. 1668
Work Type Painting
Location & Collection
Institution Cleveland Museum of Art
Source View Museum Page
License Creative Commons Public Domain Mark 1.0
