Back to Subjects
The Jewish Forces Vanquishing the Supporters of Haman
Enlarge
Share

Reference URL

The Jewish Forces Vanquishing the Supporters of Haman 1586
Farinati produced this drawing as part of a preparatory design for a frescoed frieze in the Casa Sebastiani (now the Biblioteca Civica), Verona. The frieze represents the climax in the Old Testament story of Ahasuerus, the powerful king of Persia, and his queen Esther. Their wicked chief minister Haman had plotted to exterminate all the Jews of the kingdom, and managed to persuade the King to allow him to do so. Unbeknown to Haman, the queen was Jewish and she overheard his plot. Esther exposed Haman?s treachery, thereby saving her people. Haman was to be executed, but some of his supporters rose up in defiance. Farinati has represented the Jewish forces? reaction to this, as they exacted a terrible revenge on the insurgents.

Glossary Open

Fresco

A wall painting applied to fresh, wet plaster so that the coloured pigment is absorbed into the surface of the wall.

Frieze

Derived from an element in classical architecture, it is used broadly to refer to any decorative horizontal band running along a wall or piece of furniture.

Fresco, Frieze

Details

  • Acc. No. RSA 153
  • Medium Pen, brown ink and wash, heightened with white, on blue paper
  • Size 23.70 x 43.50 cm
  • Credit David Laing Bequest to the Royal Scottish Academy on loan 1966

See related artworks