Samson and Delilah

This painting, presenting the three half-length Old Testament figures in a crowded composition, was painted by Jan Lievens in the second half of the 1620s when he was working in Leiden with Rembrandt. Their relationship can be characterized as a kind of artistic rivalry in which the two young artists were equal. They studied each other’s work seeking inspiration for their own compositions. This can be seen in the choice of subject matter. Rembrandt also painted the story of Samson and Delilah at about the same time. However, this painting shows more differences than similarities in comparison with the work by Lievens.

For Lievens’s representation of the scene, a painting by Gerrit van Honthorst can be considered as source of inspiration.

Suggested listening (streaming mp3, 10 minutes):

Camille Saint-Saens: Samson et Delila, Delila’s aria