The biblical Scroll of Esther, which tells the story of the Jewish girl chosen to be Queen of Persia and the miraculous salvation of the Persian Jews from their enemy, Haman, is at the core of the joyous holiday of Purim, the “Feast of Lots.” It is also one of the most frequently illustrated texts in Jewish tradition, the earliest examples going back to the seventeenth century. Though we do not know the name of the scribe who wrote the text of this scroll or of the artist who created its charming vignettes, certain details, such as dress, musical instruments—even the presence of dancing couples—all point to an origin in early eighteenth-century Italy.