Samson and Delilah
Medium
Pen and black ink with white heightening on brown prepared paper
Dimensions
sheet: 6 3/4 x 4 13/16 in. (17.1 x 12.2 cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1906
Accession Number
06.1051.2
Tags
Art Historical Context
Albrecht Altdorfer's *Samson and Delilah (1506) is a captivating drawing that freezes a pivotal biblical moment from the Book of Judges. Here, the mighty hero Samson slumbers deeply, unaware as Delilah shears his hair—the source of his strength—sealing his betrayal. Created early in Altdorfer's career this intimate scene reflects the Northern Renaissance fascination with dramatic narratives, infused with the artist's emerging Danube School style, known for its luminous landscapes and expressive figures. Executed in pen and black ink with white heightening on brown prepared paper, the work mea...
About the Artist
Albrecht Altdorfer · 1475–1538
Albrecht Altdorfer (c. 1480–1538) was a German painter, printmaker, and draftsman who stands as one of the founders of landscape painting as an independent genre. Born in Regensburg or nearby Altdorf, he learned art from his father Ulrich, a painter and miniaturist. Altdorfer spent most of his life in Regensburg, becoming a citizen in 1505 and later serving as the city's official architect and a m...