The Triumph of Mordecai, c. 1641

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Queen Esther was raised by her cousin Mordecai, an exiled Israelite living in Ahasuerus's kingdom. Because Mordecai exposed a plot on his life, the king asks his chief minister, Haman, to suggest a reward for a favored subject. Mistakenly thinking he will be the honoree, Haman recommends letting the person comport himself like the king. Ironically, Mordecai then rides in majesty, while his humiliated enemy Haman has to lead the procession (Esther 6).

Lucas van Leyden (see Mia P.68.200) conceived Mordecai as a modest man uncomfortable with recognition and oblivious to the crowd. Rembrandt paid tribute to Lucas (see Mia P.80.32) by borrowing two of his figures-cleverly, two who pay homage (in Rembrandt, the men holding hats near the horse's rear). He also invented a balcony with Esther and Ahasuerus, and starkly positioned Haman below Mordecai, playing up the theme of reversed expectations. The distant gallows in Lucas's engraving alludes to Haman's fate: he will be hanged for plotting the destruction of the Israelites. For contemporary audiences, the victorious Israelites symbolized the triumph of the Dutch over their Spanish oppressors.

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Details
Title
The Triumph of Mordecai
Artist Life
1606 - 1669
Role
Artist
Accession Number
P.80.32
Provenance
bought Snyder 8/30/28; Franklin M. Crosby, Jr.
Catalogue Raisonne
Hind 172 Hollstein B 40
Curator Approved

This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.

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