RICCI, Sebastiano
(b. 1659, Belluno, d. 1734, Venezia)

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 The Rape of Proserpina.