In 1619, Guercino, then at the height of his powers, received several commissions from Cardinal Giacomo Serra, the papal legate to Ferrara. These included a Saint Sebastian (Pinacoteca Nazionale, Bologna), a Prodigal Son (Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna), and the Samson with Delilah. Serra was a notable collector and in Rome had patronized Rubens. Guercino painted at least two other works for him, for which he was granted the title of Cavaliere. The subject of the present picture is from Judges 16:19–21. Samson, his hair having been shorn by the figure holding a pair of scissors, is set upon by Philistines who bind and blind him, aided by the deceitful Delilah. The focus of this dramatic and immensely inventive composition is the vigorously modeled back of Samson. A preliminary drawing, in which Samson is shown from the side in an architectural setting, is in Haarlem.

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