# Rape of the Daughters of Leucippus

[View the canonical artwork record](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/rubens-peter-paul-r5af483e07d2c6c/rape-of-the-daughters-of-leucippus-r5b4c32d776702f>)

## Artwork

- Artist: [RUBENS, Peter Paul](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/rubens-peter-paul-r5af483e07d2c6c>)
- Date: 1601-1650
- Technique: Oil on canvas, 224 x 211 cm

## Commentary

Rape of the Daughters of Leucippus c. 1617 Oil on canvas, 224 x 211 cm Alte Pinakothek, Munich The lyricism, eloquence and sensuality that characterise his entire oeuvre are already apparent in Rubens&#39; mythological compositions of 1600-1620. These are often vigorous, earthy works, such as the Rape of the Daughters of Leucippus. The two daughters of King Leucippus were betrothed to a set of twins, cousins of Castor and Pollux. But the latter pair carried the maidens off and had sons by them. Armed warriors are seen in the act of seizing the naked maidens and bearing them away on horseback. The composition of this painting opens upward like the flowering of a bouquet. The two divergent diagonals rise from the base of the painting, where the feet of captive and aggressor are placed side by side. The volumes ascend from this point, harmoniously residing on successive points of equilibrium, while the luminous white forms of the nude victims contrast with the tanned, caparisoned bodies of their hirsute rapists. Here Rubens&#39; classicising and Baroque tendencies are completely reconciled. &lt;P&gt; &lt;TABLE ALIGN=LEFT CELLPADDING=5 BORDER=1 WIDTH=320 BGCOLOR=&#34;\#99CCCC&#34;&gt; &lt;TR VALIGN=MIDDLE&gt;&lt;TD&gt;&lt;IMG SRC=&#34;/support/gif/listen.gif&#34; BORDER=0 VALIGN=MIDDLE&gt; Suggested listening \(streaming mp3, 2 minutes\):&lt;BR&gt;&lt;A HREF=&#34;\#&#34; onClick=&#34;w=window.open \(&#39;/music1/18\_cent/rameau\_castor.html&#39;, &#39;newWin&#39;, &#39;scrollbars=yes,status=no,dependent=yes,screenX=0,screenY=0,width=350,height=350&#39;\);w.opener=this;w.focus\(\);return true&#34;&gt;&lt;B&gt;Jean-Philippe Rameau: Castor et Pollux, March&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/A&gt; &lt;/TD&gt;&lt;/TR&gt;&lt;/TABLE&gt;

## Related artworks

- [A Forest at Dawn with a Deer Hunt](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/rubens-peter-paul-r5af483e07d2c6c/a-forest-at-dawn-with-a-deer-hunt-rea5d326c018776>)
- [Adoration of the Magi](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/rubens-peter-paul-r5af483e07d2c6c/adoration-of-the-magi-r13f0ae9b035d9f>)
- [Adoration of the Magi](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/rubens-peter-paul-r5af483e07d2c6c/adoration-of-the-magi-r8ab8181a3104e0>)
- [Adoration of the Magi](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/rubens-peter-paul-r5af483e07d2c6c/adoration-of-the-magi-r93964d8806884c>)
- [Adoration of the Shepherds](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/rubens-peter-paul-r5af483e07d2c6c/adoration-of-the-shepherds-r2807806632fc96>)
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- [Albert and Nicolaas Rubens](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/rubens-peter-paul-r5af483e07d2c6c/albert-and-nicolaas-rubens-r629e25251687eb>)
- [Alfonso d&#39;Este, Duke of Ferrara](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/rubens-peter-paul-r5af483e07d2c6c/alfonso-deste-duke-of-ferrara-r17a1873179cd52>)
- [Allegorical Glorification of King James I](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/rubens-peter-paul-r5af483e07d2c6c/allegorical-glorification-of-king-james-i-r0254ad0aa007af>)
- [Allegorical Glorification of King James I](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/rubens-peter-paul-r5af483e07d2c6c/allegorical-glorification-of-king-james-i-r3a72ade9ce58e6>)
- [Allegorical Glorification of King James I](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/rubens-peter-paul-r5af483e07d2c6c/allegorical-glorification-of-king-james-i-r5ab14bdd05504b>)
- [Allegorical Glorification of King James I](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/rubens-peter-paul-r5af483e07d2c6c/allegorical-glorification-of-king-james-i-r8f68224f19500f>)

## Attribution

[Web Gallery of Art](<https://beta.wga.hu/pages/about>)