# Battle of the Romans and the Sabines [View the canonical artwork record]() ## Artwork - Artist: [RICCI, Sebastiano]() - Date: 1701-1750 - Technique: Oil on canvas, 197 x 303 cm ## Commentary Battle of the Romans and the Sabines c. 1700 Oil on canvas, 197 x 303 cm Liechtenstein Museum, Vienna The Rape of the Sabine Women and its companion-piece the Battle of the Romans and the Sabines illustrates the legend of Rome's foundation. Romulus, the founder of Rome, succeeded by a ruse in ensuring the future growth of the population. He arranged a festival to which were invited the inhabitants of neighbouring settlements including the Sabines, with their wives and children. During the festivities, at a given signal, the young men of Rome broke into the crowd and, choosing only unmarried maidens of the Sabines, carried them off. The Sabine women accepted their lot. But later a Sabine army attacked the city in force and succeeded in overcoming part of it. They were prevented from going further by the intervention of the Sabine women which brought about peace between the warring soldiers. The glowing colours of the two paintings reveal the influence of Paolo Veronese, while the pastel illumination of Ricci's palette anticipates the Rococo. ## Related artworks - [Allegory of Marcantonio Colonna's Victory at Lepanto]() - [Altar of St Gregory the Great]() - [Amor Virtutis Casts Ignorantia down into Orcus]() - [Angel of the Annunciation]() - [Apotheosis of Hercules]() - [Bacchanal in Honour of Pan]() - [Bacchanal in Honour of Pan]() - [Bacchus and Ariadne]() - [Bathsheba at her Bath]() - [Bathsheba]() - [Battle of the Romans and the Sabines \(detail\)]() - [Cardinal Virtue]() ## Attribution [Web Gallery of Art]()