Schets van de onderste helft van het beeldhouwwerk Samson en de Filistijnen 1660s

This is a preliminary sketch by Moses ter Borch for his larger painting "Samson and the Philistines," which is a dramatic scene depicting the Biblical story of Samson's defeat. Created in the 1660s, this sketch reveals the artist's initial composition ideas for the final painting, now housed at the Rijksmuseum. It is a valuable example of the creative process of a Baroque artist. The delicate lines and faint outlines of the figures offer a glimpse into Ter Borch's compositional approach. The sketch's small size and the focus on the lower portion of the composition suggest it was likely intended as a private study rather than a public display.