The Toilette of Esther
Encyclopedia
The Toilette of Esther or Esther Preparing to be Presented to King Ahasuerus, is an 1841 oil-on-canvas painting by Théodore Chassériau
. The painting depicts a moment from the scriptural Book of Esther
, when Esther prepared to meet King Ahasuerus, ruler of Persia, who subsequently took her as his wife. The painting is in the Musée du Louvre. Vincent Pomarède of the Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon has described it as "one of the most famous (paintings) in the Louvre".
, seeks a new queen. Esther, a woman of great beauty, finds favor with Hegai
, the eunuch responsible for preparing women for presentation to the king. Upon seeing Esther, Ahasuerus chooses her as his wife. She later reveals that she is Jewish, and intercedes with the king in order to spare the lives of the empire's Jews.
While choosing a biblical theme as a subject, it is likely that Chassériau drew upon more recent literary sources for inspiration. The play Esther, produced by Jean Racine
in 1689, offers a more chaste version of Esther's seduction, while describing the artifice employed by her rivals for the king's attention. The exoticism of the painting is closer to an 1817 poem by Alfred de Vigny
entitled Le Bain d'une dame romaine, which includes the description:
and is reminiscent also of Les Orientales
by Victor Hugo
:
The episode had rarely been painted before. Only two previous versions are known: a 17th-century painting by Aert de Gelder
, and an 18th-century work by Jean-Francois de Troy. Given the dearth of pictorial illustrations of the story, Chassériau would have looked to paintings of women at their toilette, including depictions of Venus, of which there were more numerous examples.
Several preparatory studies exist. Two drawings in the Louvre evidence an initially circular composition, a tondo
like The Turkish Bath
that Chassériau's teacher Ingres
would paint in 1862. Such experiments underscore Chassériau's desire to find original motifs, as he wrote alongside a drawing at the time: "....Put...the history...of the world in a new way...allowing one to see these beautiful things once again by presenting them in a fresh manner. May 1841. For my painting Esther preparing her toilette". The lush accessories and overall coloring owe something to Chassériau's admiration for Eugène Delacroix
.
Art historians have long noted Chassériau's affection for his sisters, and their subconscious influence on the female figures in his art. Perhaps drawing on the recollection of Chassériau's mistress Clémence Monnerot, who said "Adèle has superb arms; they appear everywhere", Jean-Louis Vaudoyer
believed that the beauty of the artist's older sister could be found in Esther's "muscular, almost masculine, arms".
story about a young woman in a harem freed Chassériau to take advantage of Orientalist
and Romantic
elements. The presence of Asian figures and sumptuous jewelry serves to further eroticize Esther's figure. Having previously painted a Birth of Venus and a Susanna and the Elders, Chassériau found another theme which permitted a frankly sexual presentation of the female body.
The painting was not fully understood when first exhibited at the Paris Salon
of 1842. If the critics recognized an insipidness in Esther's expression—one journalist complained "But why that elongated figure, those wild eyes, that savage look? There is no soul under that face..."—they failed to properly appreciate the originality of a biblical story re-imagined in an erotic, Romantic fashion. The painting would later inspire painters such as François-Léon Benouville
and Gustave Moreau
.
The Toilette of Esther was bequeathed to the Louvre in 1934 by Baron Arthur Chassériau
, a distant relative of the artist, as part of a donation that included most of the artist's work in his possession.
Théodore Chassériau
Théodore Chassériau was a French romantic painter noted for his portraits, historical and religious paintings, allegorical murals, and Orientalist images inspired by his travels to Algeria.-Life and work:...
. The painting depicts a moment from the scriptural Book of Esther
Book of Esther
The Book of Esther is a book in the Ketuvim , the third section of the Jewish Tanakh and is part of the Christian Old Testament. The Book of Esther or the Megillah is the basis for the Jewish celebration of Purim...
, when Esther prepared to meet King Ahasuerus, ruler of Persia, who subsequently took her as his wife. The painting is in the Musée du Louvre. Vincent Pomarède of the Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon has described it as "one of the most famous (paintings) in the Louvre".
Narrative
The subject derives from the Book of Esther (2:8-9, 15), in which King Ahasuerus, having renounced his wife VashtiVashti
Queen Vashti is the first wife of King Ahasuerus in the Book of Esther, a book included in the Hebrew Bible and read on the Jewish holiday of Purim. She is banished for her refusal to appear at the king's banquet, and Esther is chosen to succeed her as queen. In the Midrash, Vashti is described...
, seeks a new queen. Esther, a woman of great beauty, finds favor with Hegai
Hegai
Hegai is a character from the Biblical Book of Esther, verses 8 & 15. He is an eunuch placed in charge of Ahasuerus's harem....
, the eunuch responsible for preparing women for presentation to the king. Upon seeing Esther, Ahasuerus chooses her as his wife. She later reveals that she is Jewish, and intercedes with the king in order to spare the lives of the empire's Jews.
While choosing a biblical theme as a subject, it is likely that Chassériau drew upon more recent literary sources for inspiration. The play Esther, produced by Jean Racine
Jean Racine
Jean Racine , baptismal name Jean-Baptiste Racine , was a French dramatist, one of the "Big Three" of 17th-century France , and one of the most important literary figures in the Western tradition...
in 1689, offers a more chaste version of Esther's seduction, while describing the artifice employed by her rivals for the king's attention. The exoticism of the painting is closer to an 1817 poem by Alfred de Vigny
Alfred de Vigny
Alfred Victor de Vigny was a French poet, playwright, and novelist.-Life:Alfred de Vigny was born in Loches into an aristocratic family...
entitled Le Bain d'une dame romaine, which includes the description:
- A slave from Egypt, her skin glistening and black,
- Presents her, kneeling, with the pure steel of the mirror,
- To tie up her hair, a virgin from Greece,
- In Isis's compass joins her two braids....
and is reminiscent also of Les Orientales
Les Orientales
Les Orientales is a collection of poems by Victor Hugo, inspired by the Greek War of Independence. They were first published in January 1829.Of the forty-one poems, thirty-six were written during 1828...
by Victor Hugo
Victor Hugo
Victor-Marie Hugo was a Frenchpoet, playwright, novelist, essayist, visual artist, statesman, human rights activist and exponent of the Romantic movement in France....
:
- Have I not, for you, lovely Jewess,
- Sufficiently emptied my seraglio?
The episode had rarely been painted before. Only two previous versions are known: a 17th-century painting by Aert de Gelder
Aert de Gelder
Aert de Gelder was a Dutch painter.De Gelder was born and died in Dordrecht. He was one of Rembrandt’s last pupils while in Amsterdam, studying in his studio from 1661 to 1663...
, and an 18th-century work by Jean-Francois de Troy. Given the dearth of pictorial illustrations of the story, Chassériau would have looked to paintings of women at their toilette, including depictions of Venus, of which there were more numerous examples.
Description
Esther is shown seated at the center of the canvas, arms above her head as she arranges her blond coiffure. Preparing to offer herself for the king's approval, she holds a pose that is "profoundly erotic in its pictorial treatment". She is nude to the waist except for a necklace and bracelets on her arms; her legs are swathed in white- and rose-colored garments. At the left a servant woman dressed in rich blue brings accessories, and at the right Hegai, clad in bright red, offers a jewel box. Esther acknowledges neither of them, staring out of the picture to the left. Behind them is a landscape of trees and sky.Several preparatory studies exist. Two drawings in the Louvre evidence an initially circular composition, a tondo
Tondo (art)
A tondo is a Renaissance term for a circular work of art, either a painting or a sculpture. The word derives from the Italian rotondo, "round." The term is usually not used in English for small round paintings, but only those over about 60 cm in diameter, thus excluding many round portrait...
like The Turkish Bath
The Turkish Bath
The Turkish Bath is an 1862 painting by the 82-year-old Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, showing nude women in a harem. Originally rectangular, it was only converted to its present tondo form by the artist in 1863...
that Chassériau's teacher Ingres
Ingres
Ingres Database is a commercially supported, open-source SQL relational database management system intended to support large commercial and government applications...
would paint in 1862. Such experiments underscore Chassériau's desire to find original motifs, as he wrote alongside a drawing at the time: "....Put...the history...of the world in a new way...allowing one to see these beautiful things once again by presenting them in a fresh manner. May 1841. For my painting Esther preparing her toilette". The lush accessories and overall coloring owe something to Chassériau's admiration for Eugène Delacroix
Eugène Delacroix
Ferdinand Victor Eugène Delacroix was a French Romantic artist regarded from the outset of his career as the leader of the French Romantic school...
.
Art historians have long noted Chassériau's affection for his sisters, and their subconscious influence on the female figures in his art. Perhaps drawing on the recollection of Chassériau's mistress Clémence Monnerot, who said "Adèle has superb arms; they appear everywhere", Jean-Louis Vaudoyer
Jean-Louis Vaudoyer
Jean-Louis Vaudoyer was a French novelist, poet, essayist and art historian. He was also administrator general of the Comédie-Française from 1941 to 1944.- External links :*...
believed that the beauty of the artist's older sister could be found in Esther's "muscular, almost masculine, arms".
Exoticism
The choice of an Old TestamentOld Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
story about a young woman in a harem freed Chassériau to take advantage of Orientalist
Orientalism
Orientalism is a term used for the imitation or depiction of aspects of Eastern cultures in the West by writers, designers and artists, as well as having other meanings...
and Romantic
Romanticism
Romanticism was an artistic, literary and intellectual movement that originated in the second half of the 18th century in Europe, and gained strength in reaction to the Industrial Revolution...
elements. The presence of Asian figures and sumptuous jewelry serves to further eroticize Esther's figure. Having previously painted a Birth of Venus and a Susanna and the Elders, Chassériau found another theme which permitted a frankly sexual presentation of the female body.
The painting was not fully understood when first exhibited at the Paris Salon
Paris Salon
The Salon , or rarely Paris Salon , beginning in 1725 was the official art exhibition of the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Paris, France. Between 1748–1890 it was the greatest annual or biannual art event in the Western world...
of 1842. If the critics recognized an insipidness in Esther's expression—one journalist complained "But why that elongated figure, those wild eyes, that savage look? There is no soul under that face..."—they failed to properly appreciate the originality of a biblical story re-imagined in an erotic, Romantic fashion. The painting would later inspire painters such as François-Léon Benouville
François-Léon Benouville
François-Léon Benouville was a French painter.Léon Benouville first studied with his elder brother Jean-Achille Benouville in the studio of François-Edouard Picot before he transferred to Ecole des Beaux-Arts in 1837. Like his brother he received the Prix de Rome in 1845...
and Gustave Moreau
Gustave Moreau
Gustave Moreau was a French Symbolist painter whose main emphasis was the illustration of biblical and mythological figures. As a painter of literary ideas, Moreau appealed to the imaginations of some Symbolist writers and artists.- Biography :Moreau was born in Paris. His father, Louis Jean Marie...
.
The Toilette of Esther was bequeathed to the Louvre in 1934 by Baron Arthur Chassériau
Arthur Chassériau
Baron Arthur Nedjma Chassériau was a French stock broker, art lover and art collector, most notable as a major donor to the Musée du Louvre...
, a distant relative of the artist, as part of a donation that included most of the artist's work in his possession.