The Purim Story. Reverse painting on glass

(ISRAEL, LAND OF)

Palestine, ca. 1920

The art of painting on the reverse side of glass was practised by the Jews of Persia. This example is in the style of Moshe ben Yitzchak Mizrachi, born in Teheran, 1870, who moved to Jerusalem where he lived until ca. 1930. The labelled scenes, from top, right to left: Queen Esther is welcomed by King Ahasuerus, who extends his scepter; The accursed Haman leads the blessed Mordechai astride the King's horse; the messengers rush to deliver the King's decree - and the news was spread through Shushan the capital; the ten sons of Haman, may their names and memory be cursed. Note that the military uniforms and accoutrement are those of the Shah of Persia’s army, nineteenth century. For a similar example, see Israel Museum Catalogue (Hebrew), Art and Artists in Eretz Israel in the 19th Century (1979), no. 96, p.125.