Room 15 of the National Gallery features the painting 'Samson and Delilah' by Peter Paul Rubens, which depicts a muscular Samson resting on Delilah's lap while an accomplice cuts his hair. This masterpiece has been at the center of a 40-year authorship controversy. Art historian Euphrosyne Doxiadis, who disputes its authenticity, first encountered the painting in 1987 and believes it is a copy rather than an original. Her findings culminated in the publication of a book, which has reignited the debate about the painting's true origins and raised questions about its brushstrokes and the context in which it was created.
The controversy over the painting's authorship, which has lasted nearly 40 years, is one of the most intense and aggressive in the art world.
Euphrosyne Doxiadis states that upon first seeing the painting in 1987, she realized it was not an original Rubens, describing it instead as a cheap copy.
Doxiadis has dedicated much of her life to disproving the painting's attribution to Rubens, leading an international group of art critics in her effort.
Her research culminated in the publication of 'NG6461: The Fake Rubens,' which aims to stir the ongoing debate about the painting's authenticity.
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