Samson and Delilah

Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn (1606-1669), oil on panel, c. 1626-1630

This scene represents the biblical story of the Israelite Samson and the Philistine Delilah. Delilah seduced Samson into revealing the secret of his superhuman strength, namely his long hair. Without it he would be like any other mortal. This painting was recently reattributed to Rembrandt. Delilah gestures the approaching Philistine with a pair of scissors to be still.

Artwork typepainting, grisaille
Object numberSK-A-4096
Dimensionsheight 27.5 cm x width 23.5 cm

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Identification

Title
Samson and Delilah
Object type
Object number
SK-A-4096
Catalogue reference
Katja Kleinert en Claudia Laurenze-Landsberg, 'Auf der Suche nach einer optimalen Bildlösung : Zur Bildgenese von Rembrandts Gemälde "Simson und Delila"', Jahrbuch der Berliner Museen (2009), p. 147-154, afb. 6.

Creation

Creation
- painter: attributed to Rembrandt van Rijn
- painter: attributed to Jan Lievens [rejected attribution]
Dating
c. 1626 - c. 1627
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Material and technique

Material
Technique
Dimensions
height 27.5 cm x width 23.5 cm

This work is about

Subject

Acquisition and rights

Credit line
Purchased with the support of the Stichting tot Bevordering van de Belangen van het Rijksmuseum
Acquisition
purchase 1963
Copyright
Public domain
Provenance
...; private collection, England;{According to Stockholm 1956, p. 21, no. 3.} ...; the dealer Agnew & Sons, London;{According to Stockholm 1956, p. 21, no. 3.} ...; collection Mrs Derek Fitzgerald, by 1956;{Stockholm 1956, p. 21, no. 3.} sale, Mrs Derek Fitzgerald et al., London (Sotheby's), 3 July 1963, no. 14, fl. 63,040, to the dealer P. de Boer for the museum, as a gift from the Commissie voor Fotoverkoop

Documentation

- Katja Kleinert en Claudia Laurenze-Landsberg, 'Auf der Suche nach einer optimalen Bildlösung : Zur Bildgenese von Rembrandts Gemälde "Simson und Delila"', Jahrbuch der Berliner Museen (2009), p. 147-154, afb. 6.
- Cornelius Müller Hofstede, 'Die Rembrandt-Ausstellung in Stockholm', Kunstchronik 9 (1956), p. 91.

Persistent URL

To refer to this object, please use the following persistent URL:
https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/200109435