Samson Threatening His Father-in-Law - William Leader

A 1765 mezzotint by William Leader, depicting a dramatic biblical scene after an original composition by Rembrandt.

This mezzotint, produced by William Leader in 1765, reproduces a composition attributed to the Dutch master Rembrandt van Rijn. The print depicts the biblical figure Samson in a moment of confrontation, gesturing towards his father-in-law, who appears behind a heavy wooden door. The work demonstrates the technical capacity of the mezzotint process to replicate the dramatic chiaroscuro associated with Rembrandt's original paintings.

Leader captures the texture of Samson's ornate garments and the rugged stonework of the prison setting through a dense application of tonal variation. The inscription at the base notes that the engraving was based on a drawing after an original picture held in the collection of the King of Prussia, reflecting the eighteenth-century practice of disseminating famous European works through print media. The composition focuses on the psychological tension between the two figures, with Samson's expressive face and hand gesture conveying his anger. The architectural elements, including the arched doorway and iron fittings, provide a sense of depth and confinement. This print serves as a record of how Rembrandt's narrative style was interpreted and circulated by British engravers during the mid-eighteenth century. The work is a fine example of the reproductive print trade, which allowed collectors to own versions of celebrated continental paintings. The monochromatic palette emphasises the play of light across the scene, drawing the viewer's eye to the central interaction.