Samson and Delilah (after Van Dyck)
Oil Painting
ca. 1810-1830 (painted)
ca. 1810-1830 (painted)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The story of Samson and Delilah comes from the book of Judges in the Old Testment of the Bible. It has become a popular subject for artistic interpretation as it combines the dramatic themes of love and betrayal. Samson, the Jewish hero, fell in love with Delila who is bribed by the philistines to betray hime into their hands. She discovers that his incredible strength comes from his uncut hair whereupon she arranges for it to be cut whilst he sleeps. Samson, drained of his strength, is thus captured by the Philistines This painting is a copy after a work by Anthony Van Dyck and depicts the moment immediately before Samson's hair is shorn. Van Dyck's picture was probably painted about1619-20, while he was working in the studio of Peter Paul Rubens. The composition derives from Rubens's treatment of the subject in the National Gallery, London of about1609, but the composition is reversed and is therefore probably taken from the print by Jacob Matham.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Samson and Delilah (after Van Dyck) (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Oil on canvas |
| Brief description | Oil on canvas, 'Samson and Delilah', William Hilton RA (after Van Dyck), ca. 1810-1830 |
| Physical description | Oil on canvas; scene of Samson with his head in the lap of Delilah having his hair cut by the philistines - a man stands above him brandishing a pair of scissors whilst two figures peer over Delilah's shoulder and soldiers wait behind a pillar on the far left. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given by Helen Tatlock |
| Object history | Given by Helen Tatlock, 1872 |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | The story of Samson and Delilah comes from the book of Judges in the Old Testment of the Bible. It has become a popular subject for artistic interpretation as it combines the dramatic themes of love and betrayal. Samson, the Jewish hero, fell in love with Delila who is bribed by the philistines to betray hime into their hands. She discovers that his incredible strength comes from his uncut hair whereupon she arranges for it to be cut whilst he sleeps. Samson, drained of his strength, is thus captured by the Philistines This painting is a copy after a work by Anthony Van Dyck and depicts the moment immediately before Samson's hair is shorn. Van Dyck's picture was probably painted about1619-20, while he was working in the studio of Peter Paul Rubens. The composition derives from Rubens's treatment of the subject in the National Gallery, London of about1609, but the composition is reversed and is therefore probably taken from the print by Jacob Matham. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 257-1872 |
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| Record created | April 20, 2006 |
| Record URL |
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