The Rape of the Sabines thumbnail 1
The Rape of the Sabines thumbnail 2
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Sculpture, Room 117

The Rape of the Sabines

Statuette
second quarter 17th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This bronze group is made by an unknown sculptor in Rome in the second quarter of the 17th century. It was formerly ascribed to Francesco Bertos and Venice.
The Rape of the Sabines is a legend in the early history of Rome. According to that Romulus, the founder of the city, used a trick to secure the future population of Rome. He organised a festival where the neighbouring inhabitants were invited, including the Sabines along with their wives and children. At a certain signal Rome's young men went into the crowd and carried away the unmarried wives. Plutarch has described to this legend the origin of the custom of lifting up a bride and carrying her over the doorstep of her husband's house.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleThe Rape of the Sabines (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Bronze
Brief description
Statuette, bronze, the Rape of the Sabines, Italian (Rome), second quarter of the 17th century
Physical description
The group rises from an irregular oval base. The central feature is a warrior in classical armour with a spear in his right hand who rides a rearing horse, holding a woman with arms outstretched. On the opposite side a kneeling warrior raises a fainting female figure from the ground. Behind is a standing warrior with one knee on the fallen horse and the left hand on the thigh of the mounted figure, an old woman with arms outstretched, and a child clutching her skirt. On the base quiver, scabbard, sword and other weapons, and a shield with coat-of-arms.
Dimensions
  • Height: 49.5cm
Object history
Given by Dr. W. L. Hildburgh, F. S. A., 1951.
The arms are identified as those of Duke of Sanesio, about 1620-1625.
Production
formerly ascribed to Francesco Bertos and Venice
Subjects depicted
Summary
This bronze group is made by an unknown sculptor in Rome in the second quarter of the 17th century. It was formerly ascribed to Francesco Bertos and Venice.
The Rape of the Sabines is a legend in the early history of Rome. According to that Romulus, the founder of the city, used a trick to secure the future population of Rome. He organised a festival where the neighbouring inhabitants were invited, including the Sabines along with their wives and children. At a certain signal Rome's young men went into the crowd and carried away the unmarried wives. Plutarch has described to this legend the origin of the custom of lifting up a bride and carrying her over the doorstep of her husband's house.
Bibliographic references
  • Montagu, Jennifer, Gold, Silver and Bronze. Metal Sculpture of the Roman Baroque, Yale University Press 1996, pp. 32-5, note 74, figs. 52-4
  • Montagu, Jennifer, 'Roman Bronzes around 1600', in: Krahn, Volker (ed.), Von allen Seiten Schön. Rückblicke auf Ausstellung und Kolloquium. Band I. Dokumentation zu Ausstellung und Kolloquium, Cologne, 1996, pp. 69-77, pp. 74-76, figs. 17 & 18
  • Pope-Hennessy, John. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture in the Victoria and Albert Museum. Volume II: Text. Sixteenth to Twentieth Century. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1964, p. 663
  • Viancini, Ettore, 'Per Francesco Bertos', in: Saggi e Memorie di Storia dell'Arte, 19, 1994, p. 143
Collection
Accession number
A.57-1951

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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