Samson and Delilah
1604-1614
In this dramatic Baroque scene, Delilah betrays the sleeping Samson by shearing off the source of his superhuman strength—his hair—while Philistine soldiers lurk menacingly in the doorway, ready to capture him. Rubens masterfully uses strong contrasts between light and dark to highlight the tension, with the candlelight illuminating Delilah's pale skin and Samson's muscular back against the shadowy room. Painted around 1610, this masterpiece was once disputed by some experts as a copy, but it was eventually confirmed as an authentic Rubens and acquired by the National Gallery in London for a record-breaking price at the time.
- Technique
- oil on panel
Location: National Gallery, London
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