Large Bronze Abduction of a Sabine Woman (14)

Large Bronze Abduction of a Sabine Woman (1)

Large Bronze Abduction of a Sabine Woman (10)

Large Bronze Abduction of a Sabine Woman (6)

Large Bronze Abduction of a Sabine Woman (3)

Large Bronze Abduction of a Sabine Woman (17)

Large Bronze Abduction of a Sabine Woman (2)

Large Bronze Abduction of a Sabine Woman (18)

Large Bronze Abduction of a Sabine Woman (16)

Large Bronze Abduction of a Sabine Woman (15)

Large Bronze Abduction of a Sabine Woman (13)

Large Bronze Abduction of a Sabine Woman (12)

Large Bronze Abduction of a Sabine Woman (11)

Large Bronze Abduction of a Sabine Woman (9)

Large Bronze Abduction of a Sabine Woman (8)

Large Bronze Abduction of a Sabine Woman (7)

Large Bronze Abduction of a Sabine Woman

A large Grand Tour patinated bronze figure group The Abduction or Rape of a Sabine Woman, after the Antique by Giambologna, Italy, circa 1830, on a separate Cipollino mandolato verde marble socle base, the bronze finely cast and with a good colour in good untouched condition, the bronze unusually heavy weighing 17kg (without marble base).

The original work ‘The Abduction or Rape of a Sabine Woman’ carved on a monumental scale in white marble between the years of 1581 and 1583 by the Renaissance sculptor Giambologna (1529-1608) stands in the Loggia dei Lanzi, Piazza della Signoria, Florence. It depicts the abduction of a Sabine woman by two Roman men, based on the classical myth, and is considered to be Giambologna’s masterpiece.

Bronze reductions of the sculpture, produced in Giambologna’s own studio and imitated by others, like our work, were a staple of connoisseurs’ collections into the 19th century.

This bronze, finely cast in the ‘round’, very effectively captures the drama and emotion of the classical myth. It appears to have been in a limited number of ownerships, having remained in very good condition and gained a good natural patinated surface.

SKU: MJGTA0075 Category: Grand Tour

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Dimensions: The bronze 55cm high, 22cm wide, 20cm deep; 73cm high including marble base

All of our items are also available through our Selling Antiques page.

Footnote

The Grand Tour of the late 17th, 18th and 19th centuries saw many upper class, wealthy and aristocratic gentlemen travel to Italy and Europe, particularly Rome, Venice and Florence, for pleasure, education and inspiration. This afforded them the opportunity to view important classical and Renaissance works of art and architecture.

The term ‘Grand Tour’ was coined by the Catholic priest and travel writer Richard Lassels (circa 1603-68), who used it in his influential guidebook The Voyage of Italy, published in 1670, to describe young lords travelling abroad to learn about art, architecture and antiquity.

Robert Adam wrote of Rome in 1755, ‘Rome is the most glorious place in the universal world. A grandeur and tranquillity reigns in it, everywhere noble and striking remains of antiquity appear in it, which are so many that one who has spent a dozen years in seeing is still surprised with something new…’

Many Grand tourists collected souvenirs in the form of bronze and marble models of sculpture and architecture, and formed collections of Grand Tour objects for their English country houses, most notably Chatsworth House.