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Object Timeline

1931

  • We acquired this object.

2012

2014

2024

  • You found it!

Overdoor, La Toilette d'Esther

This is a overdoor. It was after Jean-Francois de Troy. It is dated 1825 and we acquired it in 1931. Its medium is block printed on handmade paper. It is a part of the Wallcoverings department.

This firescreen or overdoor is nearly an exact copy of an oil painting by Jean-Francois de Troy from 1738. Between the years 1736 and 1742 Jean-François de Troy (French, 1679-1752) created seven cartoons or studies for the Gobelins Tapestry Manufactory telling the story of Esther. There were slight variations between de Troy’s paintings and the woven tapestry’s but the changes were minimal. This scene depicts Esther who is celebrated by the Jewish community during the Festival of Purim where they read from a book in her name. In the biblical tale Esther becomes Queen of Persia through her marriage to King Ahasuerus, though he does not know of her religious origin. Her cousin Mordecai learns of a plan to eradicate the entire Jewish community and the story reveals that Esther is responsible for convincing the king to spare her people, thus providing salvation for the entire Jewish community.
Firescreens were used to cover the empty fireplace in the summer months creating a nice decorative cover to an otherwise unsightly hole in the wall. It was also popular at this time to use decorative panels over doors, filling that void between the top of the door frame and the high ceiling. These panels appeared in infinite variety and were designed like little scenic wallpapers in that they frequently contained landscape views and had no repeat. Still life vignettes were another popular genre with many containing lavish spreads of fruits, wines, and cheese.

This object was featured in our Object of the Week series in a post titled Will the real Esther please stand up?.

This object was donated by Eleanor Garnier Hewitt and Sarah Cooper Hewitt. It is credited Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt.

  • Fire Screen
  • label: hand-colored, engraved paper leaf; wooden stick.
  • Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt.
  • 1924-15-212
  •

Our curators have highlighted 2 objects that are related to this one.

Its dimensions are

82.5 x 112 cm (32 1/2 x 44 1/8 in.)

Cite this object as

Overdoor, La Toilette d'Esther; After Jean-François de Troy (French, 1679–1752); France; block printed on handmade paper; 82.5 x 112 cm (32 1/2 x 44 1/8 in.); Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt; 1931-45-1

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Hewitt Sisters Collect.

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<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18319133/ |title=Overdoor, La Toilette d'Esther |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=25 April 2024 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>