Rape of the Sabines (Pietro da Cortona)

Rape of the Sabines (Italian: Ratto delle Sabine) may refer to either of two oil paintings by the Italian Baroque artist Pietro da Cortona, created c. 1629-1630.

[1] The other is listed in 19th century catalogues of the art collection at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire.

[2] Both pictures depict the legendary rape of the Sabine women.

[a] At right, a woman in a soldier's embrace, raises her hands in supplication; at left, another, borne away by a Roman, looks pityingly at her infant, who cries and seeks to follow her; in middle, a third energetically resists her aggressor.

[2] Waagen expresses his opinion that this picture is one of the painter's best and most careful works, exhibiting unusual force of colouring and careful execution.