Ahasuerus Chooses Esther
1480 Condé Museum
About this artwork
This panel depicts the biblical story from the Book of Esther, showing King Ahasuerus selecting Esther to be his queen. It is part of a series of panels illustrating the story of Esther, likely intended for a cassone (marriage chest) or spalliera (a decorative panel for a wall).
Did you know?
While Botticelli is most famous for his mythological works like 'The Birth of Venus' and 'Primavera', he also produced numerous religious and narrative paintings, often commissioned for domestic settings. This scene of Ahasuerus choosing Esther was a popular subject for Florentine cassone panels, symbolizing ideal marital virtues and providing a rich narrative to adorn a newlywed's home, despite the story's underlying themes of political intrigue and survival.
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Ahasuerus Chooses Esther
Sandro Botticelli, 1480
