#hegai

Théodore Chassériau 

first posted in facebook march 23, 2025

théodore chassériau -- "la toilette d'esther" (1841)

"the painting depicts a moment from the scriptural book of esther, when esther prepared to meet king ahasuerus, ruler of persia, who subsequently took her as his wife" … wikipedia

"when the king’s order and edict had been proclaimed, many young women were brought to the citadel of susa and put under the care of hegai. esther also was taken to the king’s palace and entrusted to hegai, who had charge of the harem. she pleased him and won his favor. immediately he provided her with her beauty treatments and special food. he assigned to her seven female attendants selected from the king’s palace and moved her and her attendants into the best place in the harem. […] when the turn came for esther (the young woman mordecai had adopted, the daughter of his uncle abihail) to go to the king, she asked for nothing other than what hegai, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the harem, suggested. and esther won the favor of everyone who saw her" … esther 2:8-9, 15

"esther is shown seated at the center of the canvas, arms above her head as she arranges her blond coiffure. preparing to offer herself for the king's approval, she holds a pose that is 'profoundly erotic in its pictorial treatment'. she is nude to the waist except for a necklace and bracelets on her arms; her legs are swathed in white- and rose-colored garments. at the left a servant woman dressed in rich blue brings accessories, and at the right hegai, clad in bright red, offers a jewel box. esther acknowledges neither of them, staring out of the picture to the left. behind them is a landscape of trees and sky" … wikipedia