The Leiden-born artist Jan Steen (1626 1679) is widely admired as one of the most engaging and technically brilliant painters of the Dutch Golden Age. This volume accompanies an exhibition that will be the fi rst in the UK devoted to Steen s Old Testament subjects. The focal point will be his magnifi cent Wrath of Ahasuerus (c.1668 69), one of the highlights of the Barber s collection, which will be joined by a number of other paintings by Steen from private and public collections across the world.
Three essays will examine the core themes of the show the role of Jewish history in Steen s Old Testament scenes; the infl uence of Dutch theatre on his work; and the critical response to his Old Testament paintings from the 17th century to date.