Object Image

Wrath of Ahasuerus

Although Jan Steen is primarily known for portraying lively scenes of peasant life, he produced at least 60 paintings that dealt with biblical, mythological and historical subjects. [i]Wrath of Ahasuerus[/i] refers to the story of Esther in the [i]Old Testament[/i]. Esther, was a Jewish queen and wife of Ahasuerus, the King of Persia. Ahasuerus, captivated by Esther’s beauty, selected her for his wife, but did not know that she was Jewish. At the same time, Ahasuerus’s chief minister, Haman, plotted to annihilate the Jews in the Persian Empire. Esther, determined to save her people, prepared a banquet for Ahasuerus and Haman, with the intention of exposing Haman to the King. In the end, Esther ...
1673
Oil on canvas
167.0 x 129.0cm
Image courtesy of WikiArt