i JAN STEEN 13 and bends down to touch the queen with his sceptre. Courtiers stand beside the throne ; behind it is Haman. To the left, at a table covered with books, is Mordecai, listening to a man who stands before him and points to Esther. A. dwarf, soldiers with halberds, and two negroes fill the scene. The dresses are very finely rendered. The blue curtain hang- ing down from the ceiling recalls the curtain in the large picture at the Mauritshuis, The Hague (595). The composition is somewhat overladen with detail. Signed in full at the top on the left, between the ornaments of the throne ; panel, 42 inches by 33 inches. Sales. P. van Dorp, Leyden, October 1 6, 1760, No. 5 (130 florins). Hendrik Verschuuring, The Hague, September 17, 1770, No. 162 (125 florins). Now at the Hermitage, St. Petersburg, 1901 catalogue, No. 895. 18. THE WRATH OF AHASUERUS. In a great hall, hung with tapestry, the king has risen hastily from the table at which he sat with Esther and Haman. He wears a yellow silk dress with a purple robe and a plumed turban. With his right hand he threatens Haman, who turns away in fear. On the right Esther stretches forth her hand with an imploring gesture. At her feet is a barking dog. A dish with a peacock falls from the table. In the background to the left are servants and a girl who brings a dish. Signed in full ; canvas, 50^ inches by 60^ inches. Sale. R. Pickfatt, Rotterdam, April 12, 1736, No. 44 (101 florins). In the Hankey collection, Beaulieu, Hastings. In the possession of the dealer C. Sedelmeyer, Paris (Catalogue of 100 Paintings, 1899, No. 54). Now in the collection of R. Kann, Paris. 19. ESTHER, AHASUERUS, AND HAMAN. Similar in details to the picture in the Kann collection (18). Good and charac- teristic, but .not one of the artist's best works. Now in the collection of Prince Potocki, Paris. [Probably No. 74 in the Dr. Goldsmith sale, Paris, February 27, 1869 (2000 francs) ; canvas, 32 inches by 38^ inches.] 20. The Wrath of Ahasuerus. W. 38. In the left foreground Haman sits at table. He is dressed in brown, with black sleeves, and wears a turban ; he seems to be in despair. The king, dressed in yellow, with a turban on his head and a Turkish sabre in his girdle, has sprung from his throne on the other side of the table. Esther sits on the right, disclosing to the king Haman's intrigues. In the right foreground are two servants ; one of them, who makes a gesture as of fright, has his back to the spectator. There are several figures in the background and many accessories ; in front of the king's plate is a small jug of water. The whole picture is typical of Oriental luxury. The costumes are fantastic. In spite of faulty draughtsmanship, the picture is very expressive and strong in colour. Panel, i6-| inches by 19 inches.
