Lot Essay
Although the subject was traditionally thought to be the Feast of Anthony and Cleopatra, this is in fact a preparatory drawing, with differences and in reverse, for Esther accusing Haman in the presence of Ahasuerus, a composition which was painted by de Lairesse and engraved by Pieter van den Berge (1659-1737) circa 1675-80 (Sotheby's, New York, 17 January, 1992, lot 117; A. Roy, Gérard de Lairesse 1640-1711, Paris, 1992, no. P 98 and fig. 98a; Fig. 1). The drawing is stylistically very close to Abraham and the Three Angels, itself also a preparatory study for a picture sold in Paris in 1990 (Roy, op. cit., no. P 209). That drawing was sold at Christie's, London, 6 July 1999, lot 162.
Fig. 1. Gerard de Lairesse, Esther accusing Haman in the presence of Ahasuerus, present location unknown.
Fig. 1. Gerard de Lairesse, Esther accusing Haman in the presence of Ahasuerus, present location unknown.