Haman begging the mercy of Esther (Esther 7:6-7)

Executed in oil on canvas, the painting demonstrates early Baroque influences filtered through an Italianate lens, evident in its dramatic lighting, rich coloration, and dynamic arrangement of figures. The artist employs a palette of saturated yellows and deep blues to highlight status, while the detailed rendering of textiles and accessories reflects a meticulous approach to materiality.

The canvas was produced by the Dutch artist Pieter Lastman, a prominent history painter of the early seventeenth century who later taught Rembrandt and Jan Lievens. After changing hands over the centuries, the painting entered the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s Dutch Baroque holdings.

Lastman's oeuvre frequently engaged with biblical and historical subjects, aligning with the period’s demand for moralizing narratives. This piece exemplifies his capacity to blend Northern European compositional rigor with the emotive vigor of Italian Baroque, situating the work within a broader cross‑cultural artistic exchange that shaped Dutch painting in the early 1600s.