Rubens – Sampson and Delilah

Diachronic elements – The biggest change that Rubens’ makes in this painting is the old woman who is standing behind Delilah. She is not mentioned in the Bible story, but is thought to be an older version of Delilah, once her youth and beauty fades away. 

Synchronic elements – The crux of the story is still portrayed, in Sampson’s vulnerability and the moment that his power is taken from him.  

Critical Engagement – I think that Rubens’ portrayal of this story really fleshes out the story that we are told in the Bible. The addition of the woman and the background of Philistines being so close by, ready to capture him when Sampson is weak, shows this quiet moment and point of vulnerability for both Sampson and Delilah, even though Delilah is supposed to be the cunning one in this story. 

Gerrit Van Honthrost – Christ Before the High Priest 

Diachronic elements – The book in front of Caiaphas would not have looked that way in the time that Jesus was alive. 

Synchronic elements – Jesus is standing before Caiaphas in both the painting and the biblical story. There are others in the painting, just as there are more characters in the story, and they are in the background of both the story and the painting. 

Critical Engagement – The most striking thing about this painting is the facial expression on Jesus. It’s calm and contained, but also looking a little irritated to the high priest. This is interesting because I think it combines both the story found in the actual Bible, and the painter’s portrayal of what Jesus would have looked like in that moment. In the story, Jesus remains mostly silent, so his expression shows what he could have been looking like. 

Sassoferrato – The Virgin and Child Embracing

Diachronic elements – This is not an image from a direct story in the Bible, however in the Bible, there are no direct references to these tender moments in the gospels. 

Synchronic elements – In the background, we see Joseph in the fields, which is realistic to what their actual dynamic would’ve been. 

Critical Engagement – As said, this is not a specific reference to a bible story, and instead is just a tender moment shown between a mother and her son. The color blue symbolizes the purity of Mother Mary, and shows what could have been a common scene in Jesus’ childhood.