Mordecai and Esther write letters in King Ahasuerus' name (Esther 8)
1693
oil
From the collection of Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden
1693
oil
From the collection of Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden
Mordecai and Esther write letters in King Ahasuerus' name (Esther 8) is a 1693 oil by Arent de Gelder, a dutch_golden_age work, held at Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden.
In this painting, a man and a woman are seated at a table, engaged in writing. The man is positioned on the right side of the table, while the woman is on the left. The woman is dressed in a long, striped dress with a high neckline and long sleeves, and her hair is styled in an updo. The man wears a dark-colored hat and a brown jacket over a white shirt. A red tablecloth covers the table, which holds a quill pen, inkwell, and paper. The scene is set against a dark background, which accentuates the warm tones of the clothing and the tablecloth. The overall atmosphere is one of quiet contemplation, as the two figures focus on their task. To learn more about the artist's use of chiaroscuro, explore Arent de Gelder's other works.
