The Rape of a Sabine Woman (View from Behind)
Medium
engraving on laid paper
Dimensions
plate: 42.2 × 28.5 cm (16 5/8 × 11 1/4 in.) sheet: 44.8 × 30.6 cm (17 5/8 × 12 1/16 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of Ruth Cole Kainen
Accession Number
2012.92.582
Art Historical Context
This engraving, created around 1598 by Jan Muller after a sculpture by Adriaen de Vries, captures a dramatic view from behind of “The Rape of a Sabine Woman.” The subject draws from the well-known Roman legend in which the early Romans abducted women from the neighboring Sabine tribe to secure wives and expand their population. By focusing on the rear perspective, the print highlights the twisting forms and sense of movement inherent in the original three-dimensional work. As an engraving on laid paper, this print played a vital role in disseminating sculptural designs across Europe at the en...