Live Auction 2535Old Master & Early British Drawings & Watercolors
John Martin (Haydon Bridge, Northumberland 1789-1854 Douglas, Isle of Man)
Lot 28

John Martin (Haydon Bridge, Northumberland 1789-1854 Douglas, Isle of Man)

The Triumph of Mordecai

Closed26 January 2012

Price Realised

USD 35,000

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John Martin (Haydon Bridge, Northumberland 1789-1854 Douglas, Isle of Man)
The Triumph of Mordecai
signed and dated 'J. Martin. 1830' (lower left)
pencil and watercolor, fragmentary watermark J WHATMAN
5 3/8 x 8¼ in. (13.6 x 21 cm.)

Henry Kelsall.
Austin Slack.
The Rev. Aiden Slack (+).
Mrs. M. Bennett; Sotheby's, London, 23 November 1971, lot 93, where acquired by Gooden & Fox, London, for Christian Peper.

Specialist note

This watercolour depicts a scene from the Book of Esther, chapter VI. Mordecai, a cousin of Esther the Queen, refused to subject himself to Haman the King's favourite. Haman in revenge tried to persuade King Ahasuerus that Mordecai should be hanged and all the Jews destroyed. However Ahasuerus, recalling that Mordecai had once warned the Queen of an attempt on his life honoured Mordecai instead, and Haman was forced to lead Mordecai in triumph dressed in the King's robes and riding the King's horse.