Art UK has updated its cookies policy. By using this website you are agreeing to the use of cookies. To find out more read our updated Use of Cookies policy and our updated Privacy policy.

The Rape of the Sabines

Image credit: The National Gallery, London

How you can use this image

This image can be used for non-commercial research or private study purposes, and other UK exceptions to copyright permitted to users based in the United Kingdom under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised. Any other type of use will need to be cleared with the rights holder(s).

Review the copyright credit lines that are located underneath the image, as these indicate who manages the copyright (©) within the artwork, and the photographic rights within the image.

The collection that owns the artwork may have more information on their own website about permitted uses and image licensing options.

Review our guidance pages which explain how you can reuse images, how to credit an image and how to find images in the public domain or with a Creative Commons licence available.

Buy a print or image licence

You can purchase this reproduction

If you have any products in your basket we recommend that you complete your purchase from Art UK before you leave our site to avoid losing your purchases.

Notes

Add or edit a note on this artwork that only you can see. You can find notes again by going to the ‘Notes’ section of your account.

The Rape of the Sabines is one of a series of paintings that show scenes from ancient Roman history. They were probably intended to be inserted into wall panelling. Three other pictures in the series are in the National Gallery’s collection: The Attack on Cartagena,The Continence of Scipio and The Intervention of the Sabine Women.

Shortly after the founding of Rome, the Romans tried to negotiate with the Sabines, who lived in the surrounding region, to secure wives, but the Sabines refused to allow their women to marry the Romans. The Romans then organised a festival to Neptune, and invited the Sabines. In Licinio’s painting, music is played on pipes as sacrifices are made at the altar of Neptune before crowds of visitors. As Romulus gives the order from his throne, the Roman soldiers on the right grab the Sabine women who struggle for freedom as the Romans fight off the Sabine men.

The National Gallery, London

London

Title

The Rape of the Sabines

Date

about 1555-75

Medium

Oil on canvas, transferred from wood

Measurements

H 35.6 x W 153 cm

Accession number

NG644.1

Acquisition method

Bought, 1860

Work type

Painting

Tags

This artwork does not have any tags yet. You can help by tagging artworks on Tagger.

The National Gallery, London

Trafalgar Square, London, Greater London WC2N 5DN England

This venue is open to the public. Not all artworks are on display. If you want to see a particular artwork, please contact the venue.
View venue