MEGILATH ESTHER.

The consignor relates that when Alfonso Cassuto moved from Hamburg, Germany, to resettle back in his ancient heimat of Portugal, he gave his family's heirloom Esther Scroll to be illuminated by his student, Moshe Brito Abrantes of Porto, a Marrano recently reconverted to Judaism. The result is a refashioned 18th-century Megillah that represents an exciting object of folk-art, filled with multi-chromatic planes and unusual perspective. The artist has a refined brushwork with uncommon modeling and suite of colors, displaying much local influence and great originality. A Selection of Images: 1. Map of the Provinces under King Achashverosh's reign "from India until Ethiopia" - setting the stage for the Purim story. 2. Lower register with procession of potential royal brides. We see the beauties smile as they approach the throne from the right and their sad faces as they continue on past the king, rejected and not selected. 3. The hanged figures of the treasonists exposed by a joint effort of Mordechai and Esther. 4. A strategic use of the tall vertical space between the columns of text, depicting King Achashverosh extending his arm and presenting Haman with his royal signet ring. A particularly bold use of color and dynamic perspective. 5. Large portrait of Mordechai in tearful prayer. Surrounding are a series of other faces representing the distressed Jews of Shushan. Interestingly the depicted style of many of these faces allude to early 20th century European masters, including: Picasso, Modigliani, Gaugin, Cezanne and Matisse. 6. Caricature representation, with exaggerated ill-proportions, featuring Queen Esther accusing Haman. 7. Graphic depiction of the ten sons of Haman hanging from the gallows. 6. Artist's self-portrait, including his name and address: "Moshe Brito Abrantes, illuminou pm Porto, R. Guerra Junqueiro 340." All in all, a remarkably unique Esther Scroll - quite unlike any other in regard to both its highly innovative style and the historical circumstances of its creation