1550
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Rape of the Sabines is a 1550 by Giovanni Jacopo Caraglio, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This print is packed with people in the middle of a chaotic fight. Men in armor swing swords while others grab women, who are dressed in flowing clothes. Statues stand on a high platform in the background, and horses and fallen bodies fill the scene. The lines are sharp, with dark shadows making the action feel dramatic. The title at the bottom says *Rape of the Sabines*, which hints this is a story about a violent historical event. The artist used deep contrasts between light and dark to create a sense of movement and tension. Look up chiaroscuro to see how artists use light and shadow like this.
The engraving depicts the Rape of the Sabines, based on a design by Baccio Bandinelli, showing a scene of figures in conflict. Printed on paper, the work includes the inscription "RAPTVS SABINARO" on a central pillar at the top of the architectural setting.
Read the full account in the museum source.
Jacopo Caraglio, Giovanni Jacopo Caraglio or Gian Giacomo Caraglio (c. 1500/1505 – 26 August 1565) known also as Jacobus Parmensis and Jacobus Veronensis was an Italian engraver, goldsmith and medallist, born at Verona…
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