Record details

• generalData.authorNameInListings

  Gijsbert Jansz Sibilla (1598-1655)

• generalData.title

  Triumph of Mordecai

• generalData.creationDate

  Mid 17th century

• technicalData.measurements

  83,3 x 94,6 cm

• technicalData.description

  Oil on canvas

• technicalData.complementaryDescription

  This canvas depicts the Triumph of Mordecai, a masterful rendition of a scene from the Book of Esther, also represented by Rembrandt in a renowned engraving. The painting captures the moment when Mordecai, having thwarted a plot against the king, is honoured by being paraded through the city on a royal horse, led by Haman, who had sought his downfall. In 17th-century Holland, the story of Esther, with its clear political undertones, became a popular theme in art, serving as a parallel to the situation the Netherlands had endured. For eighty years, from 1568 to 1648, they fought for their independence against Spanish rule and the religion imposed upon them. During this struggle, the Dutch identified with Mordecai and the Jews, while Haman symbolized the Spanish tyrant.
  The composition is rich with detail, showcasing Sibilla's characteristic attention to the interplay of light and shadow, and his ability to convey narrative through his subjects. In Sibilla's rendition, Mordecai is shown riding a splendid horse, crowned and draped in regal garments, his bearded face inspired by Rembrandt's examples. The horse is adorned with intricate trappings and plumage, reflecting Sibilla’s meticulous approach to detail. Haman, walking ahead, is depicted with a complex expression of humiliation and resentment, his posture slightly stooped under the weight of his enforced duty. The background reveals a lively cityscape, filled with onlookers who express a range of emotions from admiration to curiosity, enhancing the drama of the scene.