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Sansone catturato dai Filistei

Guercino (Giovanni Francesco Barbieri) Italian

1619

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 620

Il quadro del Guercino con le sue figure imponenti e realistiche illustra il climax della storia tratta dal Vecchio Testamento di Sansone e Dalila: il momento in cui Sansone è afferrato dai Filistei che lo legano e lo accecano con l’aiuto della sua amante fedifraga, Dalila. Il centro di questa composizione potente e di estrema inventiva è la schiena vigorosamente modellata di Sansone, ma l’intera scena creata dal Guercino, che affolla la tela con tante figure diverse, trasmette un’intensità straordinaria. La luce drammatica è caratteristica della predilezione per il chiaroscuro naturalistico che Guercino utilizzò nelle sue prime opere. Questo dipinto fa parte di una serie di commissioni che Guercino, a quell’epoca all’apice del suo potere, ricevette da parte del cardinale Giacomo Serra, legato papale di Ferrara e noto collezionista.

#5089. Sansone catturato dai Filistei

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Samson Captured by the Philistines, Guercino (Giovanni Francesco Barbieri) (Italian, Cento 1591–1666 Bologna), Oil on canvas — This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Samson Captured by the Philistines, Guercino (Giovanni Francesco Barbieri) (Italian, Cento 1591–1666 Bologna), Oil on canvas

Samson Captured by the Philistines, Guercino (Giovanni Francesco Barbieri) (Italian, Cento 1591–1666 Bologna), Oil on canvas

Samson Captured by the Philistines, Guercino (Giovanni Francesco Barbieri) (Italian, Cento 1591–1666 Bologna), Oil on canvas

Samson Captured by the Philistines, Guercino (Giovanni Francesco Barbieri) (Italian, Cento 1591–1666 Bologna), Oil on canvas

Samson Captured by the Philistines, Guercino (Giovanni Francesco Barbieri) (Italian, Cento 1591–1666 Bologna), Oil on canvas

Samson Captured by the Philistines, Guercino (Giovanni Francesco Barbieri) (Italian, Cento 1591–1666 Bologna), Oil on canvas

Samson Captured by the Philistines, Guercino (Giovanni Francesco Barbieri) (Italian, Cento 1591–1666 Bologna), Oil on canvas

Samson Captured by the Philistines, Guercino (Giovanni Francesco Barbieri) (Italian, Cento 1591–1666 Bologna), Oil on canvas

Samson Captured by the Philistines, Guercino (Giovanni Francesco Barbieri) (Italian, Cento 1591–1666 Bologna), Oil on canvas

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Fig. 1. Guercino, "Samson Captured by the Philistines," pen and brush on paper, 42.5 x 60 cm (Teylers Museum, Haarlem)

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Fig. 2. Guercino, Study for "Samson Captured by the Philistines," pen and wash on paper, 25.8 x 22.7 cm (Gabinetto dei Disegni e delle Stampe degli Uffizi, Florence)

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Fig. 3. Guercino, "Seated figure, seen from back," drawing (Fondation Custodia, Collection Frits Lugt, Paris)

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Fig. 4. Copy after Guercino, 17th century, "Samson Captured by the Philistines," 181 x 237 cm (Musée d'Angoulême)

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Fig. 5. Painting in frame: overall

Fig. 6. Painting in frame: corner

Fig. 7. Painting in frame: angled corner

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Fig. 8. Profile drawing of frame. W 9 5/16 in. 23.7 cm (T. Newbery)

Titolo: Sansone catturato dai Filistei

Artista: Guercino (Giovanni Francesco Barbieri), Italiano, 1591-1666

Data: 1619

Materiale e tecnica: Olio su tela

Dimensioni: 191,1 x 236,9 cm

Crediti: Dono di Mr. Charles Wrightsman e consorte, 1984

Numero d'inventario: 1984.459.2

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