An Illustrated Esther Scroll, Italy, 19th century

Ink and gouache on parchment (2 ¾ x 106 in.; 70 x 2692 mm). Text written in square Hebrew script arranged in 38 columns of 11 lines on four membranes, housed in a contemporary cylindrical silver case topped with a crown and engraved in Hebrew: megilat esther.

This nineteenth-century Italian megillah is embellished with garlands of leaves interspersed with berries, and a charming series of twelve illustrations which appear in rectangular frames beneath every third column of the text. The images, which bring the biblical story of Esther to life, are based on a cycle of engraved illustrations that were first published in a megillah produced in Amsterdam circa 1700.  The scroll opens with an image of the feast of Ahasuerus; further highlights of the narrative scenes include; the punishment of Vashti, the marriage of Esther and Ahasuerus, Haman choosing a date to annihilate the Jews (by shooting arrows at a target), the triumph of Mordecai, Haman's attempt to seduce Queen Esther and the Hanging of Haman.