James Cordova Arts

Retablo, 2004

Hand-adzed wood, home-made gesso, water-based natural pigments, piñon-resin varnish, leather.

Esther (Es 7: 1-10 )

Esther was a young, beautiful Hebrew girl who became the wife of King Xerxes of Persia. The king’s prime minister, Haman, convinced the king to wage war against all the Hebrews in the kingdom which prompted Esther to act on behalf of her people. Over the course of two banquets to which she invited the king and Haman, Esther convinced her husband to spare the lives of the Hebrews. The king complied with Esther’s request and ordered Haman hanged on the gallows. In this depiction, Esther presents herself to King Xerxes in regal attire, and holds a cornucopia which is representative of the banquets she held.