# The Rape of the Sabine Women [View the canonical artwork record]() ## Artwork - Artist: [RICCI, Sebastiano]() - Date: 1701-1750 - Technique: Oil on canvas, 197 x 303 cm ## Commentary The Rape of the Sabine Women 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 story of the rape is told through five couples, arranged symmetrically. They show the same motif from various viewpoints. The central couple is modelled on Bernini's marble group <A onclick="return OpenOther\('/html/b/bernini/gianlore/sculptur/1620/proserp.html'\)" HREF="/html/b/bernini/gianlore/sculptur/1620/proserp.html">The Rape of Proserpina.</A> ## 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 \(detail\)]() - [Battle of the Romans and the Sabines]() ## Attribution [Web Gallery of Art]()