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The Rape of a Sabine

Andrea Andreani

1584

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance

Dominant colour

The Rape of a Sabine is a 1584 ink by Andrea Andreani, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Andrea Andreani
When & what style?: 1584 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This artwork depicts a dramatic scene of a man grasping a woman, with another figure crouched below them. The man's left arm is wrapped around the woman's waist, while his right hand reaches up towards her outstretched arm. The woman's body is contorted, with her head tilted back and her legs bent at the knees. The figure below them appears to be supporting the woman's legs. The scene is rendered in a light brown-green chiaroscuro woodcut, which creates a sense of depth and contrast. The artist's use of shading and texture adds to the overall sense of drama and tension in the scene. The Rape of a Sabine is a characteristic work of the Renaissance movement. To learn more about this period, explore the Renaissance movement.