The Rape of the Sabine Women (Poussin)

The legendary rape of the Sabine women is the subject of two oil paintings by Nicolas Poussin. The first version was painted in Rome about 1634 or 1635 and is now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, catalogued as The Abduction of the Sabine Women. The second, painted in 1637 or 1638, is in the Louvre in Paris, catalogued as L'enlèvement des Sabines.
The theme of kidnapping was very successful in Renaissance and Baroque art. Among the legendary episodes relating rapes, kidnappings or abductions may be mentioned those of Helen by Paris, of Europa by Zeus, of Deianeira by the centaur Nessus, and of Proserpina by Pluto; the latter was sculpted by Bernini (1621–1622).
Beginning in the quattrocento, scenes of the abduction and reconciliation of the Sabine women were often figured on Tuscan cassoni (wedding chests), probably as domestic instruction for brides. Shortly after Poussin arrived in Rome in 1624, Pietro da Cortona painted a celebrated picture of the abduction (c. 1630), which was possibly influenced by such cassoni, and which in turn influenced Poussin.
For the two pairs of entwined abductors and captives depicted in the foreground of both versions, Poussin was probably indebted to Giambologna's Mannerist sculpture of the same subject (1579–1583), which was reproduced, with the figures reversed, as a chiaroscuro woodcut by Andrea Andreani (1584), and from which Poussin produced several pen-and-bistre drawings of the motif of a man lifting a woman.
Poussin was also deeply influenced by the classical antiquities which he had the opportunity to study whilst in Rome. The group to the right of the Metropolitan picture recalls The Galatian Suicide, a 2nd century AD Roman marble after a lost Greek original, which had been recently unearthed during excavations for the redevelopment of the Villa Ludovisi, and was engraved by François Perrier.
This bold political occurrence is exhibited as passing in the forum of the newly erected city of Rome. Romulus, its founder and king, stands on an elevation at the left side between two columns, holding a royal wand in one hand and raising the skirt of his robe with the other; the latter motion being the signal for every Roman to seize a Sabine wife. The games in honour of the god Consus have ceased, and a scene of uproar and confusion has succeeded. Amidst the numerous groups of struggling women and resisting fathers is one close to the front (viewer's right) composed of a fine athletic man standing across a prostrate woman in the act of striking her aged parent who has seized him round the loins; near these are an aged woman sitting on the ground bewailing the loss of her child, and two infants, one of whom lies on its back, crying. On the opposite (left) side are two sturdy Romans, each bearing in his arms a fine woman; a lictor, with the fasces in his hand, stands near them, viewing the contest.
Smith (1837) comments, "This capital production is painted in the most esteemed manner of the master and has the advantage of being clear in its tones of colouring and in excellent preservation."
Painted probably in 1633 or 1634. Belonged to the Maréchal Charles de Créquy, who was French ambassador to Rome in the 1630s; and then to King Louis XIII's chief minister, Cardinal Richelieu, who probably bequeathed it to his niece, the Duchess d'Aiguillon. Purchased at the sale of the Stourhead heirlooms of the Hoare baronets of Barn Elms, on 2 June 1883 (No. 63). Acquired by Sir Francis Cook, 1st Bt (d. 1901) in 1883 and displayed by himself and his heirs at Doughty House, Richmond; inherited by his son Sir Frederick (d. 1920); by his son Sir Herbert (d. 1939); and his son Sir Francis Ferdinand Maurice Cook, 4th Bt, from whom it was purchased by Pinakos, Inc. (Rudolf J. Heinemann), and Knoedler, of New York, in 1946.
Engraved by Jean or Gérard Audran.
The composition of this picture differs in many ways from the preceding. The place exhibits a large open square surrounded by beautiful edifices; in front of one of them, and on an elevation at the left side, stands Romulus with two senators behind him. He is dressed in military attire and in the act of raising the skirt of his robe, at which preconcerted signal every soldier has seized a Sabine woman, and a scene of confusion and strife has succeeded the festive games. Among the numerous groups may be noticed on the left in front, a soldier bearing off a struggling female, who has knocked his helmet from his head and is pulling his hair; a little retired from these are two lictors (far left), before whom an aged woman is kneeling and supplicating their aid. On the opposite (right) side is a Roman seizing a young woman, who is running after her father, and the latter, while endeavouring to escape, looks round at her ravisher. Further towards the right side is a group composed of an aged woman sitting on the ground sheltering between her knees a young girl whom a youth by entreaty, seconded by a little force, is endeavouring to obtain. In the more distant groups are seen soldiers on horseback and others on foot either forcibly bearing off the Sabine women or combating with their protectors.
Painted in Rome about 1637 or 1638; according to the artist's friend and biographer Bellori, for Cardinal Alessandro Luigi Omodei (for whom Poussin also painted The Triumph of Flora, and the picture known as Women Bathing, now lost); whence passed to the collection of Louis XIV in 1685. Engraved by Abraham Girardet; Étienne Baudet; P. L. H. Laurent; Matthijs Pool; Edme Bovinet.
A picture of the same subject, differently treated, was formerly in the collection of Sir Richard Colt Hoare (d. 1838), and has sometimes been conflated with the version now in New York.
There are four preparatory drawings for the two pictures: three sketches for the Louvre version, now at Chatsworth House, the Uffizi, and Windsor Castle; and a fourth, for the Metropolitan version, at Windsor Castle.