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Rossini
167
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Italian School, 17th century
See original version (French)
167
-
Italian School, 17th century
See original version (French)
Estimate €4,500 - €6,000
Voluntary lot
Description
Italian School, 17th century
Architectural caprice depicting the Rape of the Sabine Women
Oil on canvas
123 x 146 cm.
In the 17th century, the theme of the Rape of the Sabine Women proved highly popular amongst painters, particularly in the Italian context characterised by the Baroque aesthetic. Drawn from the legendary history of ancient Rome, this episode offered artists a subject well-suited to the depiction of movement, dramatic tension and human passions. Painters exploited the violence of the scene to create complex and spectacular compositions, characterised by a multitude of figures and dynamic body movements. This subject also allowed them to demonstrate their mastery of anatomy, perspective and spatial organisation. Inspired by their admiration for classical antiquity, 17th-century artists saw this scene as a means of celebrating Rome’s heroic origins, as well as the political and civic values associated with its history. Painters such as Pietro da Cortona and Nicolas Poussin produced interpretations in which violence, order and the exercise of power clash. Finally, the Rape of the Sabine Women is a subject particularly well-suited to the aesthetic and intellectual ambitions of 17th-century Baroque and Classical painting.
See original version (French)
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About the sale
CLASSICAL ART, Asian collection, antique paintings & works of art
Auction location
Auction time
11/04/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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