Samson and Deliah

Samson and Delilah (1616) by Gerritt von Honthorst.

Samson and Delilah (1616) by Gerritt von Honthorst. This is a fantastic representation of the Utrecht Caravaggisti, as von Honthorst and several of his contemporaries finished their formal education in the Netherlands and then spent several years in Rome where they were heavily influenced by Caravaggio’s paintings. Upon their return to Utrecht, the popularized the style and became highly sought after, particularly for their use of chiaroscuro. The scene is lit by the visible candle where Delilah cuts the sleeping Samson’s hair. The look on the maid servant tells us to keep quiet while she watches out for any unexpected visitors