STEEN, Jan
(b. 1626, Leiden, d. 1679, Leiden)

Samson and Delilah

1667-70
Oil on canvas, 134 x 199 cm
Wallraf-Richartz-Museum, Cologne

This splendid, large-scale painting shows a typical Dutch combination of biblical or mythological history painting with the characteristics of narrative genre painting. It depicts a scene from Abraham Koninck's 1618 play, The Tragedy of Samson, a parable of false love.

Suggested listening (streaming mp3, 10 minutes):
Camille Saint-Saens: Samson et Delila, Delila's aria