Unexpected Insights from my Daughter's Art History Project

Elena LaVictoire ponders what we can learn from the story of a sculptor who lost a contest yet created a masterpiece.

Last spring, my oldest daughter poured over art books and scholarly articles, researching a paper for her art history class. She had been presented with several pieces to choose from as the subject of her paper, and she ended up choosing the sculpture Sampson Kills the Philistine by Giambologna.  

I am not an art historian and wasn’t interested in the topic until my daughter started art school. But this piece is impressive. Its sheer size is imposing at over a ton and over 6 feet tall. The intricacy of the actual sculpting of two male figures in the throes of a drama captured in stone boggles my mind. The artist was truly a master, and yet the name Giambologna isn’t exactly a household name like Michaelangelo. Yet he is considered the number-two sculptor behind Michaelangelo for the time period. Two incidents in the life of this artist and this work stood out to me.  

The contest and a life lesson 

First, the commission to sculpt the piece Sampson Kills the Philistine came to Giambologna by chance. A local artist had been charged with sculpting a piece for the Piazza della Signoria in Florence, but he died before his piece was completed. A contest was then held to commission a new artist. Giambologna submitted a piece to the contest, hoping to get the opportunity to make a piece for this wonderful place. But he lost the competition.  

However, all was not lost. People who saw his submission were so impressed that the famous Medici family eventually commissioned him to sculpt a piece for their garden. That piece was Sampson Kills the Philistine.  

How often are we disappointed and disheartened by the loss of an opportunity or when a situation doesn’t go how we think it should go? Joseph being sold into slavery by his brothers immediately comes to mind. But Joseph would never have become a leader second only to Pharoh in Egypt if he had not gone through that hardship first. Even the Blessed Mother went through heartache and sorrows and what must have seemed like terrible setbacks at the time. Now, she is honored and beloved by her Son and Christians worldwide throughout the centuries.  

The example of Giambologna losing this contest so that something better could come from it speaks to me as a mother watching her adult children endure the trials and setbacks of their early adult years. These disappointments can prepare them for the future, even if it is only in learning from experience and then moving on.  

Re-gifting a masterpiece 

Giambologna completed the piece, and it stood in the Medici garden for a time. Although the workmanship and artistry are remarkable, the subject matter is not to everyone’s taste. Both figures in the sculpture are nude, and the look on the Philistine’s face is one of terror. No matter how you cut it, this is a piece of art depicting a Bible character in the act of murder.

And cut it, they did. The King of Spain procured the piece and had the sculpture cut into pieces and sent to Spain. No doubt, this was not an easy feat to accomplish, but the King wished to gift the piece to one of his Spanish ministers. Two decades later, it was re-gifted to the Prince of Wales as a diplomatic gift. When it got to England, the prince promptly re-gifted it to the Duke of Buckingham.   

The Duke loved fine art, so Sampson and his Philistine had a happy home for a time. Buckingham’s home later became Buckingham Palace, and the occupant, King George III (yes, that King George), didn’t want to see Sampson killing the Philistine daily in his royal palace. It was given to another art enthusiast in Yorkshire, where it remained until the 1950s when it finally found its forever home at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.  

I laughed out loud when I read about this. Something can be beautiful, handcrafted, and very meaningful — and still not be everyone’s cup of tea. As much as I came to respect Giambologna’s talent and work, I doubt that I would have wanted Sampson Kills the Philistine in my home or garden. I can’t think of many places outside a museum where a piece of art like this would be appreciated. The fact that this piece of art was based on a well-known Bible story would not make it easier to fit into most spaces. 

I will keep this in mind as I give religious gifts in the future. While a more realistic representation of the Crucifixion might help me in my spiritual life, it might not have the same impact on my sons and daughters in their homes.  

Finally, I’m glad I could help my daughter with this project, and I look forward to seeing what she will write about next semester. This is an aspect of being a parent to adult children that I never thought about, and I am enjoying it! 

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Copyright 2024 Elena LaVictoire
Images: (top, bottom) Deposit Photos, licensed by author; (center) Alison Bean, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons