Artemisia Gentileschi 1593 – 1656

Esther before Ahasuerus

oil on canvas (208 × 274 cm) — c. 1630 Museum Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Artemisia Gentileschi biography

This work is linked to Additions to Esther 15:7

Tags: Esther

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The Persian king Ahasuerus intended to exterminate all Jews in his land. Esther wants to ask the king to spare the Jews. But it was forbidden to approach the king without being asked, so Esther was very frightened. When she stands before the angry king, she swoons.

The king then becomes mild and tries to put her at ease by saying that the decree only applied to ordinary people.

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