Lot Essay
This drawing is one of five of similar size, four of which are dated 1664. The compositions show the same type of figure and are evidently from a series inspired by the Old Testament: two treatments of the same subject, Solomon's Idolatry, one in the Biblioteca Reale, Turin, signed and dated 1664, and the other in the Herzog Anton Ulrich Museum, Brunswick, W. Sumowski, op. cit., no. 1345-6, illustrated. Of the same type as the Brunswick drawing is Solomon's alien Wives worshipping Idols in the same museum, W. Sumowski, op. cit., no. 1347, illustrated. Another sheet, Elia and the Prophets of Baal, dated by Werner Sumowski to 1664, was formerly with Feilchenfeldt in Zürich, op. cit., no. 1442.
Two further drawings of smaller size, also of Old Testament subjects, date from 1664: the first represents Haman before Ahasuerus, very close in handling to the present one, and was formerly in the Roesler collection sold at Christie's, New York, 31 May 1990, lot 88, illustrated, and the second is Mordecai before Ahasuerus and Esther, formerly in the Warsaw University Library, W. Sumowski, op. cit., nos. 1343-4, illustrated.
Two further drawings of smaller size, also of Old Testament subjects, date from 1664: the first represents Haman before Ahasuerus, very close in handling to the present one, and was formerly in the Roesler collection sold at Christie's, New York, 31 May 1990, lot 88, illustrated, and the second is Mordecai before Ahasuerus and Esther, formerly in the Warsaw University Library, W. Sumowski, op. cit., nos. 1343-4, illustrated.