Anonymous Flemish - Esther and Ahasuerus

The painting in question depicts the biblical episode of Esther's plea to Ahasuerus. Esther was part of one of the tribes that formed Judea. After her parents' death, she was adopted by her cousin Mordecai, who married her to the Persian king Ahasuerus. When the prime minister Haman decided to exterminate all the Jews, Esther, revealing her Jewish origins, addressed a plea to her consort, obtaining from the king the right to defend the Jews on the day they were to be exterminated. The subject of Esther and Ahasuerus is widespread in artistic production between the 16th and 17th centuries and always depicts the moment of the plea, with the queen kneeling or swooning.

The composition of the work reveals a Baroque aesthetic. The scene is set in a circular space, with the three figures rotating around a hypothetical center. The figures have monumental proportions, and their volumes are amplified and enhanced by the billowing draperies. In short, everything contributes to the composition's remarkable dynamism and theatricality (also evident in the pathos and grandiloquence of the gestures), typical of Baroque painting. The use of light, which strikes the two protagonists and leaves the third figure in shadow, is also typical. From a pictorial perspective, in fact, a certain disintegration of form is emblematic, due to a highly atmospheric style. The entire surface of the work thus appears vibrant. The artist demonstrates a masterful technique in depicting the scene with dynamism, yes, but also with great naturalism. His skill can be seen in the complexity of the draperies and in his depiction of the quality of the fabrics and the effects of light on them. Regarding color, compared to the Baroque aesthetic for which he is known, he presents a much lighter palette, which suggests a dating closer to the 18th century.

The work bears the effigy of A. Von Drick on the back, suggesting the artist's Flemish origins. However, he must have completely shed his French influence. Indeed, his style fully reflects a Baroque manner, with a predilection for expansive volumes and a strong dynamism of composition that is somewhat reminiscent of another Northern European artist, Rubens. As already mentioned, a certain lightness in the palette suggests an execution closer to the 18th century.

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