Franz Christoph Janneck: Esther before Ahasuerus (18th century)

(Private Collection)

A painting by the Austrian artist Franz Christoph Janneck (1703-1761). This painting shows a scene from a deuterocanonical book about the Book of Esther. According to the story, Esther was the Jewish wife of king Ahasuerus of Persia (perhaps the historical king Xerxes I or Artaxerxes II of Persia). The king's chief advisor, Haman, is offended by Esther's cousin and guardian, Mordecai, and gets permission from the king to have all the Jews in the kingdom killed. In contrast to the rule of the court, Esther goes to the inner royal court to speak with her husband without an invitation (an offense punishable by death). Ahasuerus is angry at Esther because of her boldness but she faints before him. God softens the heart of Ahasuerus and he cancels his decision to kill all the Jews, Instead he permits the Jews to defend themselves against his attack, preventing them from being killed off. The story of Esther is the for the Jewish feast of Purim. Painting from the 18th century.