The Feast of Esther

This oil painting features delicate brushstrokes, bold colors, and strong contrast. It depicts a scene from the Book of Esther in the Hebrew Bible and the Old Testament. In this scene Queen Esther, who was Jewish, tells the king that his advisor is plotting to execute all Jews in Persia. By speaking up she helped to save her people from persecution. 

In the 17th century, Esther was both a Jewish heroine and a symbol of the Dutch struggle against persecution from Catholic Spain. It was during this time that the Dutch revolted against Spain. The Dutch were being attacked for having different religious beliefs. This painting, which was created during that time of struggle, honors the bravery and resilience of both Esther and the Netherlands. Each year the Jewish holiday of Purim celebrates Esther’s heroic role in saving the Jewish people. 

The Feast of Esther is attributed to Dutch painter Jan Lievens. He painted in the Netherlands around the same time as Rembrandt and was influenced by his style. This painting was created during a period when Lievens and Rembrandt may have shared an art studio.