Missing image

THE HERO 1978

Robert Medley (1905 – 1994)

Details

Dimension
69.5 X 51.5 CM
Media
SCREENPRINT
Accession number
P3687

Summary

This work comes from the portfolio Samson Agonistes. The works are the artist’s response to the tragedy written by the poet John Milton in 1671. Milton’s play focussed on last years of the life of Samson as told in Book of Judges in the Bible. The tragedy begins with the blinded Samson held captive in Gaza by the Philistines, for their amusement Samson is summoned to perform feats of strength. The play ends with Samson pulling down the pillars of the place where the assembly are gathered, and all, including Samson, are destroyed. Milton’s play ends with the words ‘calm of mind, all passion spent’.