Oriental Princess

Salome (1882) by the French painter Jean Baptiste Hippolyte de Vergeses (1847-1896).

Vergeses depicts here the biblical Salome in an oriental look, like the popular oriental paintings of this time. She looks more like a kind of Scheherazade in One Thousand and One Nights than a biblical woman. Only the head on the plate leaves no doubt about who she really is.

Samson and Delilah

Samson and Delilah (1537) by the German Renaissance painter Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472-1533).
As it was normal in that time the painting is full of narrative details. First there is Delilah cutting the hair. The hero is barefoot, indicating that he’s sleeping. On the other hand he wears his armor to show that he’s a warrior. In front of him there is the jawbone his most famous weapon, with which he killed once a thousand men. And in the woods are already approaching his enemies, to take him prisoner.

Not so Shy Susanna

Susanna by the Italian painter Francesco Hayez (1791-1882)

Suanna doesn’t look very surprised, quite the contrary she’s kind of presenting herself. She turns to the onlooker making clear that he’s the voyeur.