Esther legt ihre königlichen Gewänder an,

1684

Material / Technology / Carrier

Leinwand

Dimensions of the object

139,4 x 163,3 cm

Displayed

AP OG Saal XI

Department

Holländische Malerei

Genre

Malerei

Inventory number

841

Acquisition

1799 aus der Galerie Mannheim

Stock

Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen - Alte Pinakothek München

Citation

Arent de Gelder, Esther legt ihre königlichen Gewänder an, 1684, Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen - Alte Pinakothek München, URL: https://www.sammlung.pinakothek.de/en/artwork/JzG6RbzGWO (Last updated on 31.07.2023)

The Old Testament Book of Esther—the basis for the celebration of Purim to commemorate the deliverance of the Jewish people —tells of the Jew Esther who was taken by the Persian King Ahasuerus to be his wife. Anyone who appeared before the king unsummoned risked the death penalty. However, dressed in exquisite robes, Esther did just so to ask for a feast. During this feast she accuses Haman, the vizier of the Persian king, of planning to kill her people. Ahasuerus then has Haman hung on the gallows that had already been erected for Esther’s uncle, Mordechai.