Samson and Delilah

Samson and Delilah

Title

Samson and Delilah

[CDA 2011]

Painting on limewood

Medium

Painting on limewood

[Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 218]

According to the Book of Judges Samson was given a gift by God making him invincible and able to stand up to the Philistines. However he only possessed his superhuman powers as long as his hair was not cut. In response to repeated cajoling by his lover Delilah he revealed

According to the Book of Judges Samson was given a gift by God making him invincible and able to stand up to the Philistines. However he only possessed his superhuman powers as long as his hair was not cut. In response to repeated cajoling by his lover Delilah he revealed the secret of his strength to her. Here Cranach illustrates the direct results of this moment of confidence. In the foreground the panel depicts the old testament champion fancying himself in elusive safety with Delilah. Samson, who is dressed in armour and yet barefoot, is stretched out at his lover's feet with his head on her lap. The woman exploits the hero's trust and takes advantage of the situation to cut his hair and thus deprive him of his virility. In the background the awaiting Philistines are shown approaching the scene to overcome and capture the invincible one. While the jawbone lying in front of Samson recalls his past victorious battle against the Philistines, two partridges at the left may be a reference to the unbridled libido or - as suggested by the abundance of fruit on the trees - to the temptation of man to sin.

[Exhib. Cat. Gotha/Kassel 2015, 218]

Attributions
Lucas Cranach the Younger
Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attributions

Lucas Cranach the Younger

[Exhib. Cat. Gotha 2015, No. 64]
[Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, 2011]
[Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 218]
[Koepplin, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 1974, 574]

Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

'Werkstatt'
[Woermann, Cat. Dresden 1887, 612][1]
'Atelierbild'
[Schäfer, Cat. Dresden 1860, 1047][1]
'Atelierbild'
[Schuchardt 1851 A, Bd. 2, No. 43][1]

[1][Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 220]

Production dates
about 1537
about 1540

Production dates

about 1537

[Exhib. Cat. Gotha 2015, No. 64] [Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 218]

about 1540

[Koepplin, Exhib. Cat. Basel 1974, No. 472, 574]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 74.5 x 121 x 1.8 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 74.5 x 121 x 1.8 cm

  • [Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 218]

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia bottom (jawbone): winged serpent with dropped wings, facing left

Signature / Dating

  • Artist's insignia bottom (jawbone): winged serpent with dropped wings, facing left

Inscriptions and Labels

Reverse of the panel:
[Gal.-Nr., repeated]; Sammlungsnachweis Pillnitz (repeated): 'Inv. 44'

[Schlegel 2003, 92][1]
[1][Schlegel, …

Inscriptions and Labels

Stamps, Seals, Labels:

  • Reverse of the panel:

  • [Gal.-Nr., repeated]; Sammlungsnachweis Pillnitz (repeated): 'Inv. 44'

  • [Schlegel 2003, 92][1]

  • [1][Schlegel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 218]

Owner
Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden
Repository
Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden
Location
Dresden
CDA ID
DE_SKD_GG1929
FR (1978) Nr.
FR357E
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SKD_GG1929/

Provenance

  • 1657 entered the Kunstkammer under Elector Johann Georg II
    [Sächs, HStADD, Akten der Generaldirektion der königlichen Sammlungen, Cap. X a, Nr. 36][1]

  • an entry in the inventory of the Kunstkammer matches that of the inventory of Cranach paintings in Torgau, Schloss Hartenfels?
    [Sächs, HStADD, Konsilium Nr. 1125][1]

  • 1830 recorded in the Gemäldegalerie
    [Sächs, HStADD, Akten der Generaldirektion der königlichen Sammlungen, Cap. X a, Nr. 110][1]

-1945 war loss, parts in:
[Forschungsarchiv SKD, Nachlass Hans Posse][2]

[1][Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 220, 222]
[2][Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, revised 2011]

Exhibitions

Dresden 1937, 16
Weimar, Wittenberg 1953, No. 69
Weimar 1972, No. 63
Gotha/Kassel 2015, No. 64
Basel 1974, 573/574
Hamburg 2003, 147
Torgau 2004, Bd. 1 No. 215
Chemnitz 2005, No. 4
Gotha/Kassel 2015, No. 64

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Exhib. Cat. Gotha, Kassel 2015 218, 219 64 Pl. p. 219
EditorJulia Carrasco, Justus Lange, Stiftung Schloss Friedenstein, Gotha, Benjamin D. Spira, Timo Trümper
TitleBild und Botschaft. Cranach im Dienst von Hof und Reformation, [Gotha, Herzogliches Museum; Kassel, Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Schloss Wilhelmshöhe]
Place of PublicationHeidelberg
Year of Publication2015
Show Literature
Ressos 2014 164-166, 218 Fig. 134, Pl. 29
AuthorXenia Ressos
TitleSamson und Delila in der Kunst von Mittelalter und Früher Neuzeit
SeriesStudien zur internationalen Architektur- und Kunstgeschichte
Volume108
Place of PublicationPetersberg
Year of Publication2014
Show Literature
Maaz 2010 80, 81
AuthorBernhard Maaz
TitleCranach in der Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister Dresden
Place of PublicationBerlin, Munich
Year of Publication2010
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005 218-222, 232, 298 4 Pl. pp. 218/219
EditorHarald Marx, Karin Kolb, Ingrid Mössinger
TitleCranach Anlässlich der Ausstellung Cranach vom 13. November 2005 bis 12. März 2006 in den Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz. Eine Ausstellung in Kooperation mit der Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister der Staatlichen Kunstsammlungen Dresden
Place of PublicationCologne
Year of Publication2005
Show Literature
Kolb 2005 C 529, 541-548, 550, 551, 553-557, 559 4
AuthorKarin Kolb
TitleDokumentation zum Dresdener Cranach-Bestand
Publicationin Harald Marx, Ingrid Mössinger, Karin Kolb, eds., Cranach. Gemälde aus Dresden, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz
Place of PublicationCologne
Year of Publication2005
Pages526-572
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Torgau 2004 No. 215
EditorHarald Marx, Eckhard Kluth, Cecilie Hollberg
TitleGlaube und Macht. Sachsen im Europa der Reformationszeit. 2. Sächsische Landesaussellung Schloss Hartenfels Torgau
Volume1-2
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication2004
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Hamburg 2003 147
EditorBucerius Kunst Forum, Werner Schade
TitleLucas Cranach. Glaube, Mythologie und Moderne [Bucerius Kunst Forum, Hamburg]
Place of PublicationOstfildern-Ruit
Year of Publication2003
Show Literature
Koepplin 2003 C 147-149, 162, Fn. 24 Fig. 28
AuthorDieter Koepplin
TitleEin Cranach-Prinzip
Publicationin Heinz Spielmann, Werner Schade, eds., Lucas Cranach. Glaube, Mythologie und Moderne, Exhib. Cat. Hamburg 2003
Place of PublicationOstfildern-Ruit
Year of Publication2003
Pages144-165
Show Literature
Schlegel 2003 92-94
AuthorArmgard Schlegel
TitleTechnologische Untersuchungen an Holzbildträgern von Gemälden der Cranachwerkstatt in den Staatlichen Kunstsammlungen Dresden
Place of PublicationDresden
IssueSeminararbeit der Hochschule für Bildende Künste Dresden
Year of Publication2003
Show Literature
Marx 1996 B 175-177
AuthorHarald Marx
TitleCranach. Lucas der Ältere und Lucas der Jüngere. Gemälde in Dresden
JournalDresdener Kunstblätter
Issue40/6
Year of Publication1996
Pages170-180
Show Literature
Cat. Weimar 1992 60, 61 No. 19
AuthorHelga Hoffmann
EditorKunstsammlungen zu Weimar
TitleKunstsammlungen zu Weimar. Die deutschen Gemälde des XVI. Jahrhunderts
Place of PublicationFulda
Year of Publication1992
Show Literature
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979 141 No. 357E
AuthorMax J. Friedländer, Jakob Rosenberg
EditorG. Schwartz
TitleDie Gemälde von Lucas Cranach
Place of PublicationBasel, Boston, Stuttgart
Year of Publication1979
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Basel 1974/1976 573, 574 No. 472 Fig. 297
AuthorDieter Koepplin, Tilman Falk
TitleLukas Cranach. Gemälde, Zeichnungen und Druckgraphik
Volume1, 2
Place of PublicationBasel, Stuttgart
Year of Publication1974
Link http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bsz:16-diglit-104522
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Weimar 1972 B No. 63
EditorSchlossmuseum Weimar
TitleLucas Cranach 1472-1553. Ein großer Maler in bewegter Zeit
Place of PublicationWeimar
Year of Publication1972
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Weimar, Wittenberg 1953 No. 69
AuthorWalther Scheidig
EditorDeutsche Lucas Cranach Komitee
TitleLucas Cranach Ausstellung. Weimar und Wittenberg
Place of PublicationWeimar, Wittenberg
Year of Publication1953
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Dresden 1937 16
Authorn. a.
TitleLucas Cranach der Ältere und der Jüngere. Ausstellung von Werken aus dem Besitze der Staatlichen Gemäldegalerie und dem Staatlichen Kupferstichkabinet
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication1937
Show Literature
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1932 288e
AuthorMax J. Friedländer, Jakob Rosenberg
TitleDie Gemälde von Lucas Cranach
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1932
Link http://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/friedlaender1932
Show Literature
Glaser 1923 234
AuthorCurt Glaser
TitleLukas Cranach
Place of PublicationLeipzig
Year of Publication1923
Link http://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/glaser1923
Show Literature
Cat. Dresden 1887 612
AuthorKarl Woermann
TitleKatalog der Königlichen Gemäldegalerie zu Dresden. Grosse Ausgabe
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication1887
Link https://digital.slub-dresden.de/werkansicht/dlf/89861/5
Show Literature
Lindau 1883 246
AuthorMartin Bernhard Lindau
TitleLucas Cranach. Ein Lebensbild aus dem Zeitalter der Reformation
Place of PublicationLeipzig
Year of Publication1883
Show Literature
Schäfer 1860 1047
AuthorWilhelm Schäfer
TitleDie Königliche Gemälde-Gallerie im Neuen Museum zu Dresden. Beschreibung und Erläuterung sämmtlicher Gemälde nach der Ordnung der Räume begleitet von kunsgeschichtlichen und kritischen Erinnerungen
Volume1 - 3
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication1860
Show Literature
Schuchardt 1851 C 43
AuthorChristian Schuchardt
TitleLucas Cranach des Aeltern Leben und Werke. Zweiter Theil
Place of PublicationLeipzig
Year of Publication1851
Link http://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/schuchardt1851bd2
Show Literature

Research History / Discussion

The present rectangular shaped panel, dated about 1537 and attributed by Koepplin to Lucas Cranach the Younger is recorded from the second half of the 16th century in Hartenfels castle in Torgau. It can therefore be assumed that the painting was among the original decorative features of the electoral residence commissioned by Johann Friedrich the Magnanimous. [...]

In addition to the present panel 17 other paintings by Cranach were transferred to Dresden in the year 1657. Among these four panels of about the same format are part of a unified group of works. In addition to the present image the other panels, now also in Dresden, show depictions of 'David and Bathsheba', 'Solomon's Idolatry' as well as 'Salome with the Head of St John the Baptist' [DE_SKD_GG1923]. In fact each panel shows how easily women through their physical attraction and beguiling nature have since biblical times managed to tempt men to actions often with fatal consequences. Such 'Weibermacht' cycles in which men are shown as victims of female deceit and to which 'Aristotle and Phyllis' and 'The Fall of Man' can be added are frequently documented since the Middle Ages. Two of Lucas van Leyden's woodcut cycles depicting the the 'Weibermacht' illustrate the popularity of this group of motifs at the beginning of the 16th century. Koepplin highlights the fact that Cranach was the first artist of his time to introduced subjects from the 'Weibermacht' into the field of panel painting and thus made them available for representational decoration within early modern residences. Accordingly the old testament subject of Samson and Delilah had before Cranach only been illustrated in the graphic and decorative arts north of the Alps.

[Exhib. Cat. Gotha/Kassel 2015, 218]

  • Samson and Delilah, about 1537

Images

Compare images
  • overall
  • overall
  • reverse
  • irr
  • other
  • other

Documents

Technical studies

19.09.2012Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr

Underdrawing

Results

Drawing material:

- dry (?)

Technique:

- A few thin lines deviate from the painted version, e.g. in Samson’s hands, mouth, beard and the bridge of his nose (underdrawing with a dry material) [1]

[1][Schölzel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 218]

[Böhme, Schölzel, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, 2012]

  • photographed by Alexandra Böhme
  • photographed by Christoph Schölzel

2005Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography

Underdrawing

A few thin lines deviate from the painted version, e.g. in Samson’s hands, mouth, beard and the bridge of his nose (underdrawing with a dry material)

Framing

- new frame: gilded frame in the style of the 18th and 19th century Dresden gallery frames

[Schölzel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 218]

2003Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • reverse

Support

- limewood

- 1.8 cm thick

- original surface on the reverse

- four horizontal boards

- plane marks

- rebate running around the edge

[Schlegel 2003, 92-94][1]

[1][Schlegel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 218]

Condition Reports

Date2003

Support:

  • two überwalmte areas with splits (lighter)

  • losses along the second join

  • joins reinforced with blocks

  • marks where nails were employed to fix the panel in a frame

  • convexly warped

  • woodworm damage (exit holes)

Painted surface:

  • small retouches

  • old, yellowed varnish

[Schlegel 2003, 92][1]

[1][Schlegel, Schölzel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 218]

Conservation History

Date2007

see pdf

Date2004

  • glazed and converted into a climate box (frame)

see pdf

Date1967

[GGAM, Abt. Restaurierung, Meldung][1]

[1][Schölzel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 218]

see also pdf

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'Samson and Delilah', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SKD_GG1929/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Samson and Delilah', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SKD_GG1929/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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