The Herculean Spirit of il Sansone In the vibrant art scene of eighteenth-century Bologna, few figures possessed a presence as commanding as Giuseppe Marchesi. Known widely by his evocative nickname, il Sansone, or Samson, the painter’s very physical stature—a herculean build paired with a restless and vivacious temperament—served as a precursor to the powerful energy found within his brushwork. Born in Bologna in 1699, Marchesi emerg…