'Samson Slaying a Philistine' - Giambologna ( V&A London)

Samson Slaying a Philistine was carved by Giambologna (Jean Boulogne, 1529 – 1608), a Flemish sculptor who worked for the Medici family in Florence. It was imported to the UK from Italy as a diplomatic gift in the early 17th century. "The motif of the piece, 'Samson Slaying a Philistine', is taken from an episode described in the Bible, in the Old Testament's Book of Judges: 'And he (Samson) found a new jawbone of an ass, and put his hand and took it and slew a thousand men therewith'. "