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. One is in the Capitol Museum, Rome. The other is listed in 19th century catalogues of the art collection at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire. Both pictures depict the legendary rape of the Sabine women.

Capitol picture
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.

Copy by J. C. Naigeon, Dijon Museum. Engraved by P. Aquila.

Blenheim picture
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. Figures the size of life. Painted on canvas.