Artwork
Samson
Samson is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Giovan Battista Langetti. It dates from 1665 and is held in the collection of the Gallerie dell'Accademia.
About this work
Overview
Samson is a 1665 oil painting by Italian late-Baroque artist Giovan Battista Langetti, characterized by dramatic lighting and intense emotional depiction.
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays the biblical figure Samson in a moment of anguish, likely referencing his blinded state or a struggle, conveyed through a contorted face and strained pose.
Technique & Style
Langetti employed deep shadows and strong chiaroscuro to achieve a three-dimensional effect, hallmarks of the early Baroque Italian style, emphasizing Samson's muscularity and suffering.
History & Provenance
Created in 1665, the work is part of the State Hermitage Museum's collection, reflecting Langetti's activity in major Italian art centers like Genoa, Rome, and Venice.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Giovanni Battista Langetti (1635 – 22 October 1676), also known as Giambattista Langetti, was an Italian late-Baroque painter. He was active in his native Genoa, then Rome, and finally for the longest period in Venice.
