Ester y Mardoqueo escribiendo la primera carta del Purim (Ester, 9:20-21)

Executed in oil on canvas, the painting employs a restrained palette of browns and golds, creating a muted atmosphere. De Gelder renders textures with meticulous detail, from the sheen of Esther’s elaborate dress and headpiece to the folds of Mordecai’s turbaned coat, achieving a realistic yet solemn visual tone.

Created during the Rococo period, the work reflects de Gelder’s continuation of the late style associated with Rembrandt, combining chiaroscuro modeling with a calm, narrative focus. The choice of a biblical subject aligns with the era’s interest in moral and religious themes rendered in a dignified manner.

Since its completion, the painting has remained in public ownership, eventually entering the holdings of the National Museum of Fine Arts in Buenos Aires, where it is displayed as part of the museum’s European art collection.