An Illustrated Esther Scroll [Italy, 18th century]

Throughout the eighteenth century, Italy was an important center for the production of decorated megillot.  During this period, scrolls of Esther such as the present lot, were frequently embellished with columns, archways and animal imagery, and painted in a vivid palette of orange and green.  The text is penned between patterned columns and floral motifs overflow from the spandrels. A hunt scene is set above the third column of text and two unusual illustrations of a snake appear in the lower border at the opening of the scroll. The snake is likely a visual reference to the archenemy Haman who is referred to in the rabbinic literature as a foe who "struck the Jewish nation like a snake" (Esther Rabbah, petichta 5).