Esther, Ahasuerus, and Haman
Jan Steen (Dutch, 1626–1679)
c. 1668
Medium
oil on canvas
Dimensions
unframed: 70 × 93 cm · framed: 96.5 × 119.5 × 11 cm
Classification
Painting
Department
European Painting and Sculpture
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
John L. Severance Fund
Accession Number
1964.153
Tags
male
About this artwork
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.