concept

Samson carries the gates of Gaza out of the city. Woodcut.

Delilah caresses the sleeping Samson as she sets her barber to work. Engraving by J.B. de Poilly after F. Verdier, 1698.

A man sits on a high chair in front of a table surrounded by others: they watch two men in the middle of the floor perform a ritual. Etching by J. Barlow, 1790, after S. Collings.

Manoah and his wife pray to an angel which emerges from the flame of their altar. Line engraving by L. Desplaces after C. Le Brun.

Christ appears in the skies on the day of judgement. Engraving by J. Cole after M. Rota after Michelangelo.

The genius of painting, preferring sacred to secular history, brings to the public the history of Samson, and writes a dedication to E. Colbert. Etching by J. Gillet and F. Verdier after F. Verdier, 1698.

Five tombs containing skeletons of historical exemplars of wisdom, war, beauty, strength and riches; an allegory of change, decay and death. Engraving after A.P. van de Venne, ca. 1655.

A strongman has his hair combed by a lady; a parody of Samson and Delilah. Colour process print after E. Schlemo, 19--.

Samson's crushed body is borne away by his brethren. Engraving by J. Audran after F. Verdier, 1698.

God and two cherubs make water flow from the ass's jaw that Samson has used to kill the Philistines. Etching by B. Audran after F. Verdier, 1698.

A fettered Samson sits blind and distraught in a gloomy clearing. Stipple engraving by T. Kirk after R. Westall.

The shorn Samson is rebuffed by Delilah. Engraving by C. Simonneau after F. Verdier, 1698.

Samson releases himself from his bonds; Delilah and the Philistines are astonished. Etching by B. Audran after F. Verdier, 1698.

Samson, victorious over the combined powers of the Philistines, holds the jaw of the ass up high. Drawing by F. Rosaspina, c. 1830, after G. Reni.

Galleries and Reading Room

Library

Shop

Café

We’re undertaking some research with website visitors to learn more about how people find access-related information provided by museums. This survey shouldn't take longer than 10 minutes to complete. Thank you for your time!

Help us organize our website content.

Samson (Biblical judge)

Images

Catalogue

A fettered Samson sits blind and distraught in a gloomy clearing. Stipple engraving by T. Kirk after R. Westall.

The shorn Samson is rebuffed by Delilah. Engraving by C. Simonneau after F. Verdier, 1698.

Samson releases himself from his bonds; Delilah and the Philistines are astonished. Etching by B. Audran after F. Verdier, 1698.

Samson, victorious over the combined powers of the Philistines, holds the jaw of the ass up high. Drawing by F. Rosaspina, c. 1830, after G. Reni.

God and two cherubs make water flow from the ass's jaw that Samson has used to kill the Philistines. Etching by B. Audran after F. Verdier, 1698.