Scroll of Esther
Bohemia, Czech Republic, 1825
P, ink, written, painted; height: 10 cm, width: 16.3 cm

This is a very unusual rendition of the Scroll of Esther in that it is in codex form rather than the traditional long scroll. The book contains 2 painted scenes from the Esther story and an illustration of Moses, Aaron and King David.

The style of the architecture and the color of the houses indicate its origin in the present day borders of the Czech Republic when it was a part of the Habsurg empire. There is a chronogram within an inscription which gives the date of execution as 1824/5. The scene illustrated here shows the villain of the Esther story, Haman, leading the hero, Mordechai, on a horse belonging to the king.

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