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Lot Essay
Related to the picture commissioned before 1637 by Cardinal Lorenzo Magalotti, Bishop of Ferrara, and now at Ann Arbor, L. Salerno, I dipinti del Guercino, Rome, 1988, no. 180. According to Guercino's Libro dei Conti the picture was not painted and delivered until 1639, two years after the death of Magalotti. The entry in the libro dei Conti for 12 July adds that the picture was left by Magalotti in his will to Pope Urban VIII Barberini: 'Dal Ill.mo. Sig.r Horatio Magalotti si e riceuto ducat.ni 300 - per il Quadro del Ester donato alla Santita di Papa Vrbano VIII. lasiato gia per testam.to dal Em.mo Sig.r Card.le Magalotti, che fano in tutti a L 5.5 la soma di Schudi 939 L3-', B. Ghelfi, Il libro dei Conti del Guercino, Venice, 1997, pp. 97-8. The picture stayed in the Barberini family until it was bought for the Duke of Northumberland in the second half of the 18th Century.
Seven secure drawings by Guercino can be connected to Esther and Ahasuerus. A study for Esther and her attendants, close in handling to the present sheet, was sold at Sotheby's New York, 23 January 2001, lot 179. Another of the same group is at Christ Church, Oxford (J. Byam Shaw, Drawings by Old Masters at Christ Church, Oxford, 1976, no. 997, pl. 603). A drawing for Ahasuerus was sold at Christie's London, 11 April 1978, lot 49 and a partial study for the picture was sold at Sotheby's London, 23 March 1978, lot 157. A small drawing of the entire composition was sold at Christie's New York, 24 January 2001, lot 38 and another ascribed to the artist is at Windsor Castle, D. Mahon and N. Turner, op. cit., no. 156, pl. 315. Two further drawings of the two main figures are at the University of Michigan Art Museum and in a private collection (D.M. Stone, op. cit., nos. 40-1).
Seven secure drawings by Guercino can be connected to Esther and Ahasuerus. A study for Esther and her attendants, close in handling to the present sheet, was sold at Sotheby's New York, 23 January 2001, lot 179. Another of the same group is at Christ Church, Oxford (J. Byam Shaw, Drawings by Old Masters at Christ Church, Oxford, 1976, no. 997, pl. 603). A drawing for Ahasuerus was sold at Christie's London, 11 April 1978, lot 49 and a partial study for the picture was sold at Sotheby's London, 23 March 1978, lot 157. A small drawing of the entire composition was sold at Christie's New York, 24 January 2001, lot 38 and another ascribed to the artist is at Windsor Castle, D. Mahon and N. Turner, op. cit., no. 156, pl. 315. Two further drawings of the two main figures are at the University of Michigan Art Museum and in a private collection (D.M. Stone, op. cit., nos. 40-1).