Artemisia Gentileschi’s “Samson and Delilah” at the Galleria d’Italia in Naples, Italy

Artemisia Gentileschi (1593–1656) “Samson and Delilah”

Painting – Oil on canvas (90.5 x 109.5 cm) 1630

Artemisia Gentileschi, Samson and Delilah, Galleria d’Italia Zevallos, Naples, Italy

Artemisia Gentileschi, Samson and Delilah The daughter of the painter Orazio Gentileschi, a pupil of Caravaggio, Artemisia demonstrated great artistic talent and undeniable courage during the trial against her rapist, the painter Agostino Tassi, in which she was subjected to torture to ensure she was telling the truth!

She then left Rome for Florence, where she was admitted to the Academy of Fine Arts in 1616 – a major innovation at the time – and became the first woman to be recognised as a painter on an equal footing with men.

This meant that she, too, could afford to paint famous figures from the Old Testament, such as heroines like Judith slaying the Assyrian general Holofernes.

Artemisia Gentileschi, Samson and Delilah This painting depicts the beautiful Delilah, dressed in a pink gown, who managed to lull Samson to sleep by coaxing him onto her lap so that he would reveal the secrets of his Herculean strength, in order to fulfil the Philistines’ demand that they capture him without risk.

After Samson told her that his strength lay in his hair – which had never been cut since his birth – Delilah set about cutting it before handing him over to the Philistines.

Samson’s uncut hair symbolised his status as a man consecrated to God: the power of his faith, which he betrayed and subordinated to sexual pleasure.

Artemisia Gentileschi, Samson and Delilah Samson sleeps peacefully on Dalila’s lap, who has gently cut a lock of his hair with a pair of small scissors before placing it in the Philistine’s hand in exchange for the promised money.

The light focuses on Delilah’s body, highlighted by the magnificent lace beneath her pink dress and her abundant braided auburn hair, held in place by a blue ribbon; this elegant woman had no trouble seducing and convincing Samson, who appears here as an ordinary man.

She exchanges a knowing glance with the Philistine who receives the lock of hair whilst pointing out the men tasked with chaining Samson, a victim of his own weakness of character.

Artemisia Gentileschi, Samson and Delilah