Maaltijd van koningin Vasthi

About this artwork

Schenking van C.W. Horter, Sassenheim

Art Historical Context

This elegant pen drawing by Paolo Farinati captures the biblical feast of Queen Vashti, a dramatic moment from the Book of Esther. Created during the artist’s active years in the mid-to-late sixteenth century, the elongated horizontal format—measuring just 240 mm high but 725 mm wide—suggests it may have been designed as a preparatory study or decorative frieze. Farinati, a leading Veronese Mannerist, was celebrated for his fluid draftsmanship and theatrical compositions, often blending classical architecture with lively figural groups. Executed solely in pen, the work highlights the artist’s mastery of line and movement, allowing viewers to appreciate the expressive gestures and spatial arrangement typical of Mannerist drawing techniques. Such works were prized by collectors for their inventive storytelling and technical brilliance, serving both as independent artworks and aids for larger paintings or frescoes. The drawing entered the collection through a generous donation by C.W. Horter of Sassenheim, preserving this intimate yet grand vision of an ancient royal banquet for modern audiences.

About the Artist

Paolo Farinati · 1524–1606

Italian painter and engraver. Comment on works: Religious