Rape of a Sabine

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Rape of a Sabine
Copy after Giovanni da Bologna
(Douai, 1529 - Florence, 1608)

The Rape of a Sabine, an old copy after Giovanni da Bologna, is an example of a group engaged in a fierce struggle. The figures rise spirally, while the strong movement of their intertwined bodies suggests the influence of the Farnese Bull, a dramatic piece of Hellenistic sculpture. The theme was frequent at the time, combining three antagonistic characters in a single action.