Giovanni Antonio Galli called SPADARINO

Exhibited by Galerie G. Sarti

Material Oil on canvas

Dimensions 165 x 132 cm

Status Vetted

About the Work

This "Delilah" is datable to the mature period of Giovanni Antonio Galli, known as Spadarino. As is evident from every canvas of his that comes to light, this superb artist expresses himself through startling, original iconography. Here too, Spadarino lives up to his reputation, showing Delilah without Samson, exhibiting her trophy and the reward for her deed.

The soft brushwork and chiaroscuro that shape Delilah’s face are entirely typical of Spadarino, as is the translucent texture of the flesh passages on her hands and arm. Also noteworthy is the extraordinary still life in the foreground, with chains and snapped ropes (the only evidence of Samson together with the locks of hair).

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Provenance

Genoa, private collection

Literature

G. Papi, "Un'inconsueta Dalila per Spadarino", in G. Papi, "Di bella et hoscura maniera. Scritti su Caravaggio e l'ambiente caravaggesco", Roma-Napoli, 2024, pp. 144-153 (the painting is reproduced fig. 1 p. 144 and a detail on the cover).