Samson and Delilah

attributed to Rembrandt van Rijn, c. 1626 - c. 1627

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
  • Physical characteristicsoil on panel

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Identification

  • Title(s)

    Samson and Delilah

  • Object type

  • Object number

    SK-A-4096

  • Description

    Simson en Delila. Simson is op de schoot van Delila in slaap gevallen. Delila houdt zijn haar vast en gebaart tegen de naderende Filistijn met schaar dat hij stil moet zijn. Rechts op de voorgrond een schaal, kan en omgevallen glas.

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

  • Physical description

    oil on panel

  • 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.

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