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Samson and the Lion

Statuette
1515-1520 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Throughout the ages artists and craftsmen have made virtuoso carvings as a display of their skill and ingenuity. Although ivory, wood and stone are relatively easy to carve, other materials such as gemstones are much more demanding. Most of these carvings were made for wealthy patrons and collectors, who delighted in the rarity of the material and quality of the carving. This small figure is remarkable for its closely observed detail. It was clearly intended for a cultivated patron, who would have placed it in his study or cabinet. Samson was one of the Old Testament judges. By killing a lion with his bare hands, he foreshadowed Christ’s victory over evil.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleSamson and the Lion (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Boxwood, carved
Brief description
Samson and the lion, circle of the Master of Elsloo, Northern Netherlands, ca. 1515-20
Physical description
Statuette in carved boxwood showing Samson and the lion. The figure stands astride the seated beast with his right hand he holds the animal's upper jaw while with his left he seizes its tongue. Samson is shown with long curling hair, moustache and beard and wearing a tight fitting short-tailed surcoat over trunk and hose, the sleeves full below a fitted shoulderpiece. A heavy hunting sword is carried on a chain thrown over the right shoulder.
Dimensions
  • Height: 13cm
Credit line
Bought with funds from the Murray Bequest.
Object history
Bought at auction in 1895 by W. M. de Zoete; sold 1935 to Fritz Rothmann; purchased for £50 from Dr Rothmann with the funds of the Murray Bequest in 1936.
Subjects depicted
Summary
Throughout the ages artists and craftsmen have made virtuoso carvings as a display of their skill and ingenuity. Although ivory, wood and stone are relatively easy to carve, other materials such as gemstones are much more demanding. Most of these carvings were made for wealthy patrons and collectors, who delighted in the rarity of the material and quality of the carving. This small figure is remarkable for its closely observed detail. It was clearly intended for a cultivated patron, who would have placed it in his study or cabinet. Samson was one of the Old Testament judges. By killing a lion with his bare hands, he foreshadowed Christ’s victory over evil.
Bibliographic references
  • Williamson, Paul. Netherlandish Sculpture 1450-1550. London, 2002, pp.138-9, ill., cat, no. 44.
  • Annual Review 1936 London, Victoria and Albert Museum, 1936, p.5, pl. 2b.
  • Peters, Famke, ed. by, A Masterly Hand: Interdisciplinary Reserach on the Late-Medieval Sculptor(s) Master Elsloo in an International Perspective: Proceedings of the Conference Held at the Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage in Brussels 20-21 October 2011, Brussels, Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage, 2013, Scientia Arts 9, pp. 149-150, fig. 7.2
  • Scholten, Frits, ed. Small Wonders. Late-Gothic Boxwood Micro-Carvings from the Low Countries, exh. cat. pp. 438-439, 508-509, 632, fig. 187, cat. 77.
  • Laat-gotische beeldsnijkunst uit Limburg en grensland, Sint-Truiden Provincie Limburg Culturele Angelegenheden 1990 no.63
Collection
Accession number
A.4-1936

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Record createdApril 13, 2005
Record URL
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