Samson and Delilah

Samson and Delilah — Hans Burgkmair. 1519.

Medium: woodcut. Dimensions: Sheet: 12.1 x 9.7 cm (4 3/4 x 3 13/16 in.).

Collection record: The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland. Museum connection according to this source; current display unverified.

Samson was a man of immense strength and a Nazarite, an Israelite who took a pious oath not to cut his hair or drink alcohol. Bribed by the Philistines (enemies of the Israelites), Delilah—Samson’s lover—cut his hair after discovering that it was the source of his strength. In Hans Brosamer’s rendition, Samson has fallen asleep on Delilah’s lap as she cuts his hair while the Philistines enter. A large chalice and ewer nearby reveal the role of wine in his slumber. Hans Burgkmair similarly emphasized the importance of wine to the plot with a single beaker. The story was popular in Protestant northern Europe, where it was understood as a cautionary tale about the dangers of temptation and neglecting one’s spiritual commitments.

Source: official collection record. Metadata selected and normalized by Artline from the source export, accessed 10 September 2026; no museum endorsement. Reproduction rights are separate.