The Louvre houses a famous painting by Nicolas Poussin, the Rape of the Sabine women. Painted circa 1637-1638, the work tells us about a tragic episode of Rome’s history.
Romans, people of soldiers, lacked women. Romulus, their king, imagined a ruse. He spread the news that he had discovered the altar of Consus, god of counsel, underground. To celebrate that, he invited the Sabine, neighbors of Rome, to a great event : a ritual sacrifice followed by games and a show. During the celebration, the king stood up briefly to open his coat, which was an attack signal. That’s when the Roman youth rushed towards the young Sabine women to abduct them.
Romulus, standing on a rostrum, is orchestrating this violent scene. Nevertheless, his face remains serene, which completely contrasts with the chaos at his feet. Thus, this painting is a snapshot, like a photograph.
