The Old Testament hero Samson is here shown wielding the jawbone of an ass to slay two of the Philistines who were taunting him. This massive figure group was purchased from the artist by the young Lord Malton, later 2nd Marquess of Rockingham, when he visited Italy in 1749 in order to obtain works of art for his father's new house, Wentworth Woodhouse, in Yorkshire. The sculpture remained there, displayed in the sculpture gallery in the house, until 1985.
The marble from which this sculpture is carved was probably originally intended for a work by Giambologna, a replacement for his earlier Samson and the Philistine (Museum no. Museum no. A.7-1954), which had been sent as a gift to Spain in 1601. In the event Giambologna did not carve the replacement, and the block was given to the Granducal sculptor, Giambattista Foggini, who took over Giambologna's workshop. It then became available to Giambattista's son and pupil, Vincenzo.
Physical description
Marble figure group depicting Samson and the Philistines, inscribed, 'VINVS FOGGINI / SCVLPSIT FLO / RENTIAE / 1749'. The group comprises of three male nudes; Samson stands, a jaw bone in his raised right hand, astride two struggling Philistines.
Place of Origin
Florence, Italy (made)
Date
1749 (dated)
Artist/maker
Foggini, Vincenzo (sculptor)
Materials and Techniques
Carved marble
Marks and inscriptions
'VINVS FOGGINI / SCVLPSIT FLO / RENTIAE / 1749'
Dimensions
Height: 233 cm
Object history note
Wentworth Woodhouse, Yorkshire, 1750-1985 (bought in 1749 by Charles Lord Malton, later 2nd Marquess of Rockingham (1730-1782) and passed by descent through the heirs of his sister Anne and her husband, the 3rd Earl Fitzwilliam): Christie's, London, 15 July 1986, lot 96; Fred Koch, London; Christie's, London, 5 December 1989, lot 204; Green Drake Corporation, New York. Purchased by the Museum for £350,000 from Green Drake Corp., in 1991.
Descriptive line
Figure group, marble, depicting Samson and the Philistines, by Vincenzo Foggini, Italy (Florence), dated 1749
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Tomasso Brothers Fine Art. Scultura. London: Paul Holberton Publishing, 2008, pp. 110-111. ISBN 9781903470893.
Cotman, Viccy. Fabricating the Antique: Neoclassicism in Britain, 1760-1800. Chicago; London, 2006. p. 137, and fig. 58 on p. 138.
Jeremy Warren, 'Giambologna in Inghilterra e in America, in Giambologna gli dei, gli eroi. Museo Nazionale del Bargello, Florence, 2006, fig. 7 onp. 132.
Williamson, Paul, "Acquisition of Sculpture at the Victoria & Albert Museum, 1986-1991", in: Burlington Magazine, Dec. 1991, p. 880
Penny, Nicholas, 'Lord Rockingham's Sculpture Collection and the Judgement of Paris by Nollekens', in: The J. Paul Getty Museum Journal, Vol. 19, 1991, pp. 5-34
Warren, Jeremy, 'Giambologna in Inghliterra e in America', in Giambologna gli dei, gli eroi (exh. cat.), Museo Nazionale del Borgello, Florence, 2006, fig. 7 on p. 132
Exhibition History
The Treasure Houses of Britain (National Gallery of Art, Washington 01/01/1985-31/12/1986)
Gli Ultimi Medici: Il tardo barocca a Firenze, 1670-1743, (Florence, Museo degli Argenti, Palazzo Pitti 01/01/1974-31/12/1974)
The Twilight of the Medici (Detroit Institute of Arts 01/01/1974-31/12/1974)
Labels and date
Vicenzo Foggini (active 1725-1753)
Samson and the Philistines
Signed and dated 1749
This massive figure group shows the Old Testament hero Samson using
the jawbone of an ass to kill two of the Philistines who were taunting him. Foggini sold it directly to the young Lord Malton (later 2nd Marquess of Rockingham), when he visited Italy in 1749 to buy works of art for Wentworth Woodhouse, the family seat in Yorkshire. [Nov. 2010]
Subjects depicted
Men; Nudes; Samson; Bone; Philistine
Categories
Sculpture; Religion; Myths & Legends
Collection code
SCP
