"Esther and Mordecai"

The body language in this painting by de Gelder is superb. Mordecai leans forward urgently to stress the importance of what he is saying: Esther must act quickly or they will all die. His left hand reaches out to emphasize what he is saying. Esther seems to be backing away from him, her left hand grasping the rail of the chair in apprehension. She does not want to do what he is urging because it may very well end in her own violent death, but she is beginning to realize that she has no choice in the matter. The moment is reminiscent of the words of Jesus on the eve of the Passion: “Father, if you will, let this chalice pass from me. But if it cannot, let your will be done.”