Sabijnse maagdenroof 1793

"Sabijnse maagdenroof" (1793) by Ludwig Gottlieb Portman depicts a scene from Roman history where the Roman men kidnapped Sabine women to establish a new colony. The drawing uses a simple line style to highlight the drama of the scene as Roman soldiers subdue the women in the foreground while a figure in the background speaks to a crowd. This work, held in the Rijksmuseum, is an excellent example of the Neoclassical style that was popular in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.