The rape of

the Sabine
women
GIAMBOLOGNA

BY ANNA WU 3B
A. Factsheet
TITLE: The rape of the Sabine women
ARTIST: Giambologna
YEAR: 1579-1583
STYLE: Mannerist style, Cinquecento
SIZES: 410cm height
TECHNIQUE: Carving
MATERIALS: White marble
LOCATION: Florence
 B. Artist biography
Giambologna, also known as Jean de Boulogne, was a
Reinaissance scultor, born in Flanders in 1529. He
began in career studying with master reinaissance
artists such as Michelangelo and Cellini. His famous
works include The fountain of Neptune in Bologna,
The rape of the Sabine women, among others. He is
known for his technical skill and theatricality in his
sculptures. He died in 1608
 C. Formal analysis
is made from a single block of marble. It depicts three
figures: at the base of the statue, an older bearded nude man
kneels on the ground, a second younger nude male, holds a
struggling nude woman in his arms. The kneeling man
represents the weak elderly husband of the young Sabine
woman who is being abducted by the young Roman. The
artist's use of exaggerated gestures, along with his ability to
convey a sense of intense energy, characterize his style of
Mannerism. The dynamic figurative composition spirals
upward in a twisting figura serpentinata, with no frontal view.
This is one of the unique attributes of the statue – it offers
multiple viewpoints, and its impact changes with the viewer's
position
D. Interpretation
Represents an ancient Roman hitory, the
male population of the city was in need of
women to ensure both the success of the
city and the propagation of Roman
lineage. After failed negotiations with the
neighboring town of Sabine for their
women, the Roman men devised a scheme
to abduct the Sabine women (which they
did during a summer festival). What we see in Giambologna’s
sculpture is the moment when a
Roman successfully captures a Sabine
woman as he marches over a Sabine
male who crouches down in defeat.
 E. Historical context

To the period that began in 1559 with the end of

the Italian Wars and ended in 1814 with the fall of
Napoleon. The following period was characterized
by political and social unrest which then led to the
unification of Italy, which culminated in 1861 with
the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy.
BIBLIOGRAPHY/WEBGRAPHY
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LOGNA-ABDUCTION-OF-A-SABINE-
WOMAN/