Esther before Ahasuerus

Esther, the beautiful Jewish wife of the Persian king Ahasuerus (Xerxes), and her cousin Mordecai persuaded the king to retract an order for the general annihilation of Jews throughout the empire (Esther 5: 1-2, 9-18). The massacre had been plotted by the king's chief minister, Haman, and the date decided by casting lots (purim). Instead, Haman was hanged on the gallows he built for Mordecai; and on the day planned for their annihilation, the Jews destroyed their enemies.

This composition, influenced by Veronese, is a good example of Padovanino's art. His paintings are generally characterized by a decorative effect, clear compositions, and an abundance of beautifully rendered and narrative details. They are proof of his abandonment of Mannerism, which had become shallow, and his return to the artistic ideals of the High Renaissance.