Samson and Delilah (van Dyck, London)

Samson and Delilah is a 1620 painting by Anthony van Dyck. He produced it just after his return from Italy and shortly before leaving for London It was heavily inspired by his tutor Rubens's version of the same subject and for a long time was attributed to Rubens. Van Dyck inverted the composition and showed Delilah in white chalk make-up and heavily rouged cheeks, the makeup traditionally worn by Parisian prostitutes. The painting is now held in the Dulwich Picture Gallery in London. He returned to the subject in 1630.