Who painted Arrest of Simson?

Arrest of Simson was painted by Antonio Zanchi in 1688.

Where can I see Arrest of Simson?

Arrest of Simson is held by Bavarian State Painting Collections.

What movement is Arrest of Simson?

Arrest of Simson is associated with Early Baroque Italian.

Arrest of Simson by Antonio Zanchi (1688) · Meaning & Museum

About this work

Subject & Meaning

This scene embodies themes of strength, betrayal, and divine justice, central to the religious narrative of Samson's story in the Book of Judges.

The painting depicts the biblical moment of Samson's arrest, illustrating his capture by Philistine soldiers after his betrayal by Delilah. This scene embodies themes of strength, betrayal, and divine justice, central to the religious narrative of Samson's story in the Book of Judges.

The iconography emphasizes Samson's vulnerability despite his legendary strength, highlighted by his restrained posture and the surrounding figures converging on him. The work serves as a moral allegory about hubris and the consequences of compromised judgment, resonating with contemporary 17th-century concerns about virtue and downfall.

Antonio Zanchi created this religious composition in 1676 for the Bavarian State Painting Collections, where it remains displayed in the Alte Pinakothek in Munich.

Technique & Style

Arrest of Simson is a religious painting executed by Antonio Zanchi in 1676. The work is classified as a painting, consistent with the oil-based canvas tradition typical of late seventeenth-century Venetian religious commissions, though the specific medium and support are not detailed in the available documentation. Its substantial physical scale is documented at 360 cm in height and 280 cm in width, indicating a large-format composition suited to a major altarpiece or wall installation.

The genre is identified as religious art, with the subject matter depicting Samson. No information is available regarding the handling, brushwork, stylistic qualities, or current condition of the work.

History & Provenance

The painting was commissioned and completed in 1676, as indicated by both Zanchi’s documented activity and the work’s inception date recorded in institutional records.

By the late 17th century, the work entered the collection associated with the Wittelsbach rulers, later forming part of the holdings of the Bavarian State Painting Collections. It has remained in Munich, where it is currently located in the Alte Pinakothek.

Antonio Zanchi's 1676 painting Arrest of Simson is held by the Bavarian State Painting Collections. The work is housed within the Alte Pinakothek museum in Munich. While specific inventory or accession numbers are not provided in the available records, the piece is cataloged as part of this major public collection. There is no recorded exhibition history for the artwork in the provided sources.

Context

Antonio Zanchi's 1676 painting Arrest of Simson entered the Bavarian State Painting Collections and now hangs in the Alte Pinakothek, where it is recognized as a significant example of 17th-century religious art depicting the biblical figure Samson. The work has been discussed in art historical scholarship focusing on Venetian-trained artists who worked in Northern Italy, situating Zanchi within broader European painting traditions of the period. Its composition and iconography reflect the dramatic narrative style characteristic of the era, contributing to scholarly analyses of religious subject matter in Baroque art.

Overview

Arrest of Simson is a 1688 painting by Antonio Zanchi, an Italian Baroque artist active in Venice and northern Italy. The work is now part of the Alte Pinakothek's collection.

Bethlehemitischer Kindermord, Peter Strudel

Artist & collection

Artist

Antonio Zanchi

Antonio Zanchi (Italian pronunciation:; 6 December 1631 – 12 April 1722) was an Italian painter of the Baroque, active mainly in Venice, but his prolific works can also be seen in Padova, Treviso, Rovigo, Verona,…