Samson and the Lion
Can I see it?
Yes, on view now
Where is “Samson and the Lion” now? Art Institute of Chicago, Gallery 200, Chicago. Yes, on view now. Checked October 12, 2026.
Chicago, United States
Closed· opens Thu at 11:00 AM
On public display.
- Checked
- In this state since
- Source
- The museum
About the sculpture
Samson’s encounter with a lion was one of the legendary Israelite hero’s earliest feats. Here, Cristoforo Stati emphasized Samson’s bulging muscles as he effortlessly tears apart the lion’s jaw. Stati studied in Florence under Flemish-born artist Jean de Boulogne, called Giambologna. In 1601 Ferdinando I de’ Medici, Archduke of Tuscany, sent a sculpture of Samson by Giambologna as a diplomatic gift to the Duke of Lerma, the prime minister of Spain. After that work traveled from Florence to Lerma’s palace in Valladolid, the duke sought another scene to pair with it and commissioned Giambologna’s follower, Stati. In the ensuing years, the Spanish capital moved from Valladolid back to Madrid, where the sculpture seen here was installed. Stati created the twisting figures to complement the work of his mentor, who favored compositions meant to be viewed from all sides.
Art Institute of ChicagoCC BY 4.0
Details
- Accession number
- 1997.335
What it shows
In the catalog
Sources
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Image: Art Institute of Chicago — CC0
