Esther voor Ahasverus 1536 - 1578

Giambattista Zelotti made this pen and brown ink drawing called ‘Esther before Ahasuerus’ in the 16th century, likely in Venice, Italy. It depicts a scene from the Old Testament, but it also reflects the social and political dynamics of the artist’s time. Here, Esther risks her life by approaching King Ahasuerus without being summoned, in order to reveal a plot to destroy her people. Look at the architecture, the clothing, and the poses of the figures. Zelotti was a master of the fresco, a technique of mural painting that became popular in the 16th century, and this drawing might be connected to a larger fresco project commissioned by powerful patrons in Venice. The art of the time was deeply intertwined with social class. Patrons used art to display their wealth and power, while artists like Zelotti gained status through their talent. The story of Esther resonates with the complex relationships of power in Zelotti's Italy, where wealth, religion, and politics were constantly in negotiation. Studying Zelotti, his patrons, and the institutions they inhabited helps us understand the social life of this art. Scholarly journals, archives, and historical society records can reveal the hidden stories behind this drawing.