Samson and Delilah by Pierre Paul Rubens

A passionate drama taken from the Book of Judges, this masterly nocturnal scene depicts the fatal trap set for the Hebrew hero by the woman he loved. The painter Pierre Paul Rubens orchestrates an atmosphere of restrained tension in “Samson et Dalila” to immortalize the moment of betrayal. This masterpiece illustrates Baroque perfection through the richness of chiaroscuro, the contrast of bodies, and the erotic charge of the setting.:::::The colossus Samson lies asleep, his head resting on Delilah’s lap, his bare and muscular torso bathed in warm light. Delilah, with a generous neckline, observes with quiet coldness as a young boy carefully cuts the hero’s locks of hair with scissors. Behind them, an elderly wrinkled matchmaker holds a candle to light the barber’s delicate work. In the doorway on the right, Philistine soldiers armed with spears wait hidden in the shadows for the signal to capture the warrior. In a niche at the back of the room, a statue of the goddess Venus dominates the alcove lined with crimson satin drapes and an Oriental carpet. Intimate candle lighting sculpts the sleeper’s impressive musculature and warms the red drapery.:::::Pierre Paul Rubens displays unmatched skill in working with artificial light and the tactile rendering of precious fabrics. His mastery of oil painting infuses a dramatic thrill as well as striking realism into this tragic scene of seduction.