Samson and Delilah seated on a bed, Samson tearing apart the ropes binding his hands as soldiers look on from behind a curtain; from the series of 112 prints of the sacred history, after the painting by Giovanni Battista Pittoni

Art Historical Context

This dramatic etching and engraving captures a pivotal moment from the biblical story of Samson and Delilah (Judges 16), the mighty hero demonstrates his superhuman strength by tearing apart ropes binding his wrists. Seated on a bed, Samson remains oblivious as Delilah watches intently, while Philistine soldiers peer suspiciously from behind a curtain, foreshadowing his eventual betrayal. Created around 1730–39 by Pietro Monaco a painting by Venetian Rococo artist Giovanni Battista Pittoni, print exemplifies the era's fascination with dynamic religious narratives, blending tension and theatric...