The present picture was accompanied until 1984 by a pendant showing Esther before Ahasuerus (Pilo, op. cit., illustrated; Pallucchini, op. cit., fig.57; Succi, op. cit., no.7, illustrated in colour). The two subjects, though not traditionally paired, are thematically related as scenes of Old and New Testament salvation. Pallucchini emphasises Amigoni's contrasting treatment of the two scenes, 'ambedue condotte con una impeccabile maestrìa, sottilmente melodrammatica la prima [Esther], più concitata la seconda'. As Pilo points out, the present composition is strongly reminiscent of Luca Giordano's pictures of the same subject and battle scenes. Both pictures are generally dated within Amigoni's years in England, 1729-39, and by Dario Succi more specifically to the end of this period, 1737-9