The Story of Esther

Art Historical Context

Behold *The Story of Esther*, a captivating narrative panel created collaboratively by Florentine artists Marco del Buono Gberti and Apollonio Giovanni di Tomaso. in tempera and gold wood, this elongated work (17½ x 55⅜ inches) exemplifies 15th-century Renaissance decorative from Italy. Such panels were often commissioned for luxurious household furniture like cassoni (wedding chests or spalliere (room backrests), adorning the homes of affluent families with moral and biblical tales. The artwork vividly illustrates episodes from the Book of Esther in the Old Testament, featuring the Jewish queen Esther, her husband King Ahasuerus, lavish banquets, dining scenes, and dynamic elements like horses. These vignettes highlight Esther's courage as she intercedes to save her people from persecution, blending courtly splendor with dramatic tension amid gatherings of men and women. The meticulous tempera technique, enriched with shimmering gold leaf, creates a jewel-like quality that draws the eye to intricate details of costumes, architecture, and figures in motion. Acquired through the Rogers Fund in 1918, this piece from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Paintings collection offers a window into Renaissance Florence's blend of piety, pageantry, and artistic innovation.

About the Artist

Marco del Buono Giamberti|Apollonio di Giovanni di Tomaso (Italian|Italian) · 1402 |1416 –1489 |1465

Italian, Florence 1402–1489 Florence|Italian, Florence ca. 1416–1465 Florence