The Abduction of the Sabine Women

The Abduction of the Sabine Women

The Abduction of the Sabine Women

Artist:Nicolas Poussin (French, Les Andelys 1594–1665 Rome)
Date:probably 1633–34
Medium:Oil on canvas
Dimensions:60 7/8 x 82 5/8 in. (154.6 x 209.9 cm)
Classification:Paintings
Credit Line:Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1946

According to Roman mythology, the neighboring Sabines were invited to a festival with the intention of forcibly retaining their young women as wives. When the Roman leader Romulus raised his cloak, his warriors seized the women. This dramatic story gave Poussin the opportunity to display his command of gesture and pose and his knowledge of ancient sculpture and architecture. The man at the right wears a yellow lorica made of leather. The painting belonged to the maréchal de Créquy, who was the French ambassador to Rome from June 1633 to July 1634, and then to Cardinal Richelieu.

Provenance

Maréchal Charles I de Créquy, Paris (from about 1633/34 [when he was ambassador to Rome]–d. 1638; inv. May 10, 1638, no. CXXX, valued at 350 livres); Armand-Jean du Plessis, Cardinal de Richelieu, Paris (until d. 1642; his estate, 1642–50; inv., January 29, 1643, no. 1002 bis, as "Ravissement des Sabines du sieur Poussin de quatre piedz et demy de hault sur trois piedz et demy de long . . ." valued at 1600 livres tournois; his estate sale, Paris, January 7–February 8,1650, no. 1002 bis, sold for 1620 livres tournois to Aiguillon); his niece, Marie Wignerod de Pontcourlay, duchesse d'Aiguillon, le Petit Luxembourg, Paris (1650–d. 1675; sold by her heirs to de la Ravoye); Jean Néret de La Ravoye [or Ravoir], Paris (by 1685); Bénigne de Ragois de Bretonvilliers, Paris (by 1698–d. 1700); Jaques Meijers, Rotterdam (by 1714–22; cat., 1714, pp. 5–6; his sale, Rotterdam, September 9, 1722, no. 233, as the Rape of the Sabine Women by a capable follower of Poussin, for fl. 50); Henry Hoare, Stourhead, Bath, Wilts. (by 1762–d. 1785); the Hoare family, Stourhead (1785–1857); by descent to Sir Henry Ainslie Hoare, Stourhead (1857–83; his sale, Christie's, London, June 2, 1883, no. 63; to Lesser, for £35); [Lesser, London, 1883]; Sir Francis Cook, Doughty House, Richmond, Surrey (1883–d. 1901); his son, Sir Frederick Cook, Doughty House (1901–d. 1920); his son, Sir Herbert Cook, Doughty House (1920–d. 1939); his son, Sir Francis Ferdinand Maurice Cook (1939–46); [Pinakos, Inc. (Rudolf J. Heinemann), and Knoedler, New York, 1946; sold to MMA]

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