Triumph over Evil: Samson Rending the Lion | Pluto and Cerberus

Maarten van Heemskerck, c. 1555

The young, beardless Samson ripped a ferocious lion apart with just his bare hands. In Heemskerck’s time, this story was regarded as the forerunner (prefiguration) of Christ’s victory over the devil. Pluto, recognizable by his three-headed dog Cerberus, was the guardian of the underworld in classical mythology. In the 16th century he was also identified with the devil from Christianity.

Artwork typepainting
Object numberSK-A-5059
Dimensionsheight 46.8 cm x width 15.1 cm
Physical characteristicsolieverf op paneel, in bruintinten ( brunaille)

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Triumph over Evil: Samson Rending the Lion | Pluto and Cerberus

Identification

Title(s)
Pluto en Cerberus
Object type
Object number
SK-A-5059
Catalogue reference
- I. van Tuinen, The struggle for salvation: a reconstruction and interpretation of Maarten van Heemskerck’s Strong Men, Simiolus, vol. 36, no. 3-4, 2012, pp. 142-162.
- I.M. Veldman, « Maarten van Heemskerck en Italië », Nederlands Kunsthistorisch Jaarboek, XLIV, 1993, pp. 125-142.
- Maarten van Heemskerck, Samson Destroying the Temple, c. 1550- c. 1560 , in J.P Filedt Kok (ed.), Early Netherlandish Paintings, online coll. cat. Amsterdam 2010.

Creation

Creation
painter: Maarten van Heemskerck, Haarlem
Dating
c. 1555
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Material and technique

Physical description
olieverf op paneel, in bruintinten ( brunaille)
Material
Technique
Dimensions
height 46.8 cm x width 15.1 cm

Acquisition and rights

Credit line
Gift of B.P. Haboldt, in memory of Peter and Kitty Haboldt-Mutters
Copyright
Public domain

Documentation

- I. van Tuinen, The struggle for salvation: a reconstruction and interpretation of Maarten van Heemskerck’s Strong Men, Simiolus, vol. 36, no. 3-4, 2012, pp. 142-162.
- I.M. Veldman, « Maarten van Heemskerck en Italië », Nederlands Kunsthistorisch Jaarboek, XLIV, 1993, pp. 125-142.
- Maarten van Heemskerck, Samson Destroying the Temple, c. 1550- c. 1560 , in J.P Filedt Kok (ed.), Early Netherlandish Paintings, online coll. cat. Amsterdam 2010.

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Persistent URL

To refer to this object, please use the following persistent URL:
https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/200749307