The Second Banquet of Esther 48 x 48 oil on canvas

Esther was an orphan who was raised by her older cousin, Mordecai, and eventually, through a series of events, became a queen. Mordecai used to go to the gates of the king's palace to inquire regarding the young woman he raised, and while there he saw the king's assistant, Haman. Haman demanded Mordecai bow down to him, and when Mordecai refused, he became enraged. Haman then crafted an evil plan to kill all the Jews in the entire country, and  to hang Mordecai on a 7o foot gallows.  When Mordecai went to the castle the next day, he told Queen Esther of the evil that was about to come on their people. Haman deceived the king into signing an edict to carry out his plan, which could not be reversed. Esther was afraid to approach the king, because in so doing she was actually taking her life into her hands. The King received her, and she asked that the king attend a banquet she would prepare, and to please invite Haman.  The king did so, and at the banquet, he asked Queen Esther what he