tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post4438982209505939406..comments2024-03-18T07:23:32.809-04:00Comments on Gurney Journey: Samson and DelilahJames Gurneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01870848001990898499noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-54476519432982243422009-04-19T13:44:00.000-04:002009-04-19T13:44:00.000-04:00very "stock" Renaissance...
Man oh man I bet any p...very "stock" Renaissance...<br />Man oh man I bet any painter here would love to have the chops to paint one of those. I have to disagree with statements like this, the very essence of post-modernism at it's worse.<br /><br />It's interesting how most people pick the most cinematic, the Solomon.jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03014751431677271423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-41636842409617058012009-04-19T02:35:00.000-04:002009-04-19T02:35:00.000-04:00You totally see Ruben's influence in the Van Dyck ...You totally see Ruben's influence in the Van Dyck versions you showed here.Stephen James.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04729750229032513596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-11592396792697878352009-04-19T00:49:00.000-04:002009-04-19T00:49:00.000-04:00Sorry, but Rembrandt is painfully and awkwardly ou...Sorry, but Rembrandt is painfully and awkwardly out of his element in grand manner historical painting if one is to judge him by the conventions of the style's history. I love the Solomon.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-13932895545369578012009-04-19T00:45:00.000-04:002009-04-19T00:45:00.000-04:00I like the orange and blues in the Van Dyke but if...I like the orange and blues in the Van Dyke but if I pick a favorite it would be the Rubens because I have seen the actual painting in London's national gallery. Rubens painting was commisoned for a space above a fire place so the dark scheme with small areas of light would have look quite dramatic in a dark room light by a roaring fire.Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04641223414745777056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-87292874770042550602009-04-19T00:19:00.000-04:002009-04-19T00:19:00.000-04:00Another great post.
I am attracted to the Solomon...Another great post.<br /><br />I am attracted to the Solomon for its formal qualities: The draftsmanship, the staging, The swirling lines of action, the force and tension. This guy was the Frazetta or Jack Kirby of his day. His bombastic spectacular quality must have had an influence on early silent film directors. But it is the acting of Delilah that takes it too far for me (as has been noted she appears to be like an actor in a silent film -- Theda Bara perhaps? -- silent film acting was often just stage acting transplanted to film and she's playing to the back row. ) You could argue that her over the top performance represents Sampson's subjective point of view or possibly its in keeping with the spirit of Judges author's opinion of women (Sampson gave his first wife to his best man after she told the answer to his riddle to the Philistines, thus betraying him, then he went to a prostitute , then he fell in love with Delilah-- I'm not sure if its clear if they were married ...) She is basically rubbing her hands together and cackling with glee about how evil she is.<br /><br />While I also like the moment portrayed by Rembrandt, I ultimately voted for the Stom his acting seemed more real -- Delilah has an anticipatory smile on her face because she is starting to feel that she can take power over Sampson -- its the moment just before the act and to my mind ultimately more resonant because of that.<br /><br />I wonder though, what our choices would be if we were all walking through the "Sampson gallery" of some uber museum and viewing these works in person instead of on a computer monitor?Daroohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02269629297022511462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-64986973819981305152009-04-18T21:07:00.000-04:002009-04-18T21:07:00.000-04:00Stom is my favorite because the viewer is involved...Stom is my favorite because the viewer is involved in the imagery. We become another witness/accomplice.It almost gives me the feeling of having to be silent. Like one feels when walking in to a sacred place.Chris Jouanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08064029633068399561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-83728021842770086862009-04-18T20:00:00.000-04:002009-04-18T20:00:00.000-04:00Matthias Stom, definitely. Those look like real pe...Matthias Stom, definitely. Those look like real people, doing a real nasty deed.<br /><br />Solomon would be my second choice, because of the composition and the character shown by the gleeful Delilah (even though, as another commenter says, she looks a bit like a silent film diva).colinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14244453791724435617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-79262014106612607612009-04-18T19:13:00.000-04:002009-04-18T19:13:00.000-04:00It came down between Stom and Solomon for me. Stom...It came down between Stom and Solomon for me. Stom is indeed the most psychological, and exhibits spectacular use of lighting and staging to this end. His characterization of Delilah is the most intense, sympathetic, and ambivalent; urged on by the other two, she is tenderly and delicately cutting her husbands hair.<br /><br />Solomon, on the other hand, is the most theatrical, visceral, emotional, and ultimately, human. His triumphant Delilah has no doubts about her actions at the moment, gleefully taunting Samson with a lock of hair she probably ripped from his head with her own hand. Samson's look of shock and betrayal completes the story of one of the Bible's most toxic relationships and dysfunctional marriages.<br /><br />I was surprised at how ineffectual Rembrandt, Rubens (a personal favorite) and Van Dyck left me. I think it was primarily the characterization of Delilah - very "stock" Renaissance, with little fire or personality. Stom and Solomon had much stronger characterizations. Stom's is spiritual and ambivalent. Solomon's is vividly Shakespearean.<br /><br />If you want to do this again, Jim, I'd suggest with the biblical story of Judith - and don't forget Artemisia Gentileschi's depiction.Steven Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02696611705204591030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-29582188716110995992009-04-18T19:11:00.000-04:002009-04-18T19:11:00.000-04:00Rembrandt has another painting on the same subject...Rembrandt has another painting on the same subject, far more famous and better than the one shown here. It can be seen on the link http://www.artrenewal.org/asp/database/image.asp?id=1360Mauriciohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14271598616816328349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-1302357876987390322009-04-18T18:41:00.000-04:002009-04-18T18:41:00.000-04:00I vote for Stom. Some of the others seem overly dr...I vote for Stom. Some of the others seem overly dramatic to me. Stom's captures the deception, the quiteness and secrecy of the act.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00423051076809524563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-11395852965214952162009-04-18T17:28:00.000-04:002009-04-18T17:28:00.000-04:00It's the Solomon for me, the composition is amazin...It's the Solomon for me, the composition is amazing, I think the naturalism of the figures makes the picture more alive for me. And as others have said, the fact that he has Delilah mocking Samson is just fantastic, it really drives home the fact that she betrayed him with no regard for his well being. Amazing painting all round, we're amazingly lucky to have a book by Solomon making the rounds on the web :)Ramonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06368066115689857506noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-61021658412651490002009-04-18T17:07:00.000-04:002009-04-18T17:07:00.000-04:00I love the second Van Dyke and the Rembrandt is gr...I love the second Van Dyke and the Rembrandt is great. There is another more intense Rembrandt in which Samson is having his eyes taken out, that is one amazing painting. <br /><br />1: the second Van Dyke<br />2: Rembrandt<br />3: Rubens<br /><br />Ask me on another day and the order will be reversed.jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03014751431677271423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-39179681362394083162009-04-18T16:53:00.000-04:002009-04-18T16:53:00.000-04:00I like the Solomon piece the best- between the ene...I like the Solomon piece the best- between the energy and the depiction of Samson straining against his oppressors, and Delilah's expression, I feel it potrays the betrayal best, which is the heart of the tale for me.innisarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05321227473311180542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-26382249862698202322009-04-18T14:14:00.000-04:002009-04-18T14:14:00.000-04:00Rembrandt for me! I agree with badbot, Samson is t...Rembrandt for me! I agree with badbot, Samson is the victim in the story- why should he stand out? Its a lot more subtle and evocative, drawing you in, and seems a lot less self connscious than the others.Andy Machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12026543055321851106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-37481208382952248732009-04-18T13:53:00.000-04:002009-04-18T13:53:00.000-04:00Solomon Solomon is amazing. I've wanted to see tha...Solomon Solomon is amazing. I've wanted to see that painting in person since the moment I first laid eyes upon it. It's amazing the way the figures are so realistic, yet their contours are so rhythmic and dynamic.Victorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16334033221403464054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-47080693032707295722009-04-18T13:38:00.000-04:002009-04-18T13:38:00.000-04:00I really like Stom's, due to its style and feeling...I really like Stom's, due to its style and feeling of immediateness. It's very "real". In fact, I'm putting it as my desktop background right now!<br /><br />My second favourite is Solomon's, for reasons Joe Sutphin put more eloquently than I can.<br /><br />I don't really know the story, though, so my preference is based solely on the picture, and not on any attachment to what's going on.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-2067749818759144102009-04-18T12:41:00.000-04:002009-04-18T12:41:00.000-04:00Solomon's is just gut wrenching! She just looks so...Solomon's is just gut wrenching! She just looks so malicious flaunting that hair at him. and the look on his face is so full of the failure and realization of all that she proved herself to be, and all that he lost for falling for her. but everyone meets their fate shortly there after...<br />look at those sheers in the lower left corner! they are brutal looking all together. and that guy next to them probably got a butt whoopin while trying to use them.<br />serious painting there.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-38377740502379772322009-04-18T12:33:00.000-04:002009-04-18T12:33:00.000-04:00I like the two Van Dyck's for the contrast of the ...I like the two Van Dyck's for the contrast of the quiet and the action.<br /><br />But I gotta go with the Rubens because I just love Reubens and it's so sensual.donnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00762690167864156774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-35054150584052852222009-04-18T11:52:00.000-04:002009-04-18T11:52:00.000-04:00I like the Stom and the Rembrandt. I like how I ge...I like the Stom and the Rembrandt. I like how I get a feeling of secrecy, urgency and anxiousness from the Rembrandt, the reasons I like the Stom are the ones already mentioned. Those two fit the story quite well. <br />From the more action-filled versions I like the Solomon best. The composition just works for me, Samson being captured like a wild animal - and the teasing Delilah is delightful. I like it when she gets a more active part in the renderings. In the second Van Dyck she looks so apologetical, that's also interesting.Saskiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06301660517419622751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-37496903816587833482009-04-18T11:24:00.000-04:002009-04-18T11:24:00.000-04:00Solomon J. Solomon's picture has always impressed ...Solomon J. Solomon's picture has always impressed me. I just love the energy and movement of the picture. Oh, and Delilah is so cruel in that one!Patrick Dizonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05474426989493027469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-48600287681385907932009-04-18T09:55:00.000-04:002009-04-18T09:55:00.000-04:00I picked Stom because it's the one with the best s...I picked Stom because it's the one with the best storytelling in my opinion, with Rubens as a close second, because it presents many elements without creating confusion, and I appreciate the overall sensuality.<br /><br />My least favorite is Solomon - while I can appreciate that it's so dynamic, it looks too much like a stage play to me (and Delilah made me think at once of a silent film diva).poggyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03100274244865165948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-82976594988370624132009-04-18T09:27:00.000-04:002009-04-18T09:27:00.000-04:00I chose Stom for its contained energy. Most of th...I chose Stom for its contained energy. Most of the others (Rembrandt excepted) seemed over the top with histrionics.Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09596875722436085739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-73782590677084266892009-04-18T09:19:00.000-04:002009-04-18T09:19:00.000-04:00i've chosen Rembrandt. i think it's probably the b...i've chosen Rembrandt. i think it's probably the best interpretation of this story ( obviously it's according to my own feelings ).<br /><br />there is two "schools" of painting here, the action scenes and the "non-action" or slow action scenes.<br /><br />usually i really dig actions paintings, but for this story, it's seems better to me to tell a sad, slow motion and "victim-feeling" story.<br /><br />that's why i was especially stroken by the Stom and the Rembandt. But the Rembrandt painting really succeed to transmit this "victimness", opposite to the Stom wich is too based on the faces and less on the global composition. That's why i think that the Rembrandt one is really masterful. You don't need to read the faces properly to feel this strange feeling, this impression that's something wrong is happening. It's all based on the lights and the composition.<br /><br />i disagree with erik, you don't have to clearly see samson, he's just a victim in this story, he doesn't have to be strenghtful and heroic-looking. To me it's much more effective to paint Samson like Rembrandt did, and to focus on what's happenng between Delilah and the Philistines.<br /><br />the others paintings are really impressives too, but failed in a "narrative" way.<br /><br />maybe i'm not qualified enough to judge theses masters work, but it's just the way i feeled about this particular story.<br /><br />( i apologize for my english mistakes or approximations, it's pretty difficult to speak about a such precise subject :) )badbothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17827386343541823313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-43278194507903501072009-04-18T08:29:00.000-04:002009-04-18T08:29:00.000-04:00To my surprise, the Rembrandt is my least favourit...To my surprise, the Rembrandt is my least favourite. Where's Samson? Why is Delilah holding a rolled up carpet? Oh, is <I>that</I> Samson!? I see...I hadn't noticed.<br /><br /><br />Van Dyck has two very very different interpretations of the scene. The first one doesn't express much drama, but the second one is vivid. The whole crowd seems to be falling to the left, starting with a standing man on the right and the woman leaning backward on the left. This gives a very strong sense of motion.<br /><br />Court and Solomon also have strong twirling movement, but look more manneristic.<br /><br />Of the 'non-action' paintings, being the first Van Dyck, the Rubens and the Stom, I think Matthias Stom has the strongest image, as it closes in on the subject and indeed closes in on the psychological level as well.<br /><br />Favorite? I'll pick two.<br />The second Van Dyck and the Matthias Stom.Erik Bongershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02409523352634066030noreply@blogger.com