I got a little confused. The first sculpture is "Rape of the Sebine Woman" by Giambologna
and the second is "Rape of the Proserpine" by Bernini.
Both sculptures are very similar. I just marveled at the detail in the second photo.
I didn't comment on the first post since I couldn't really see the spiral movement in that little box with the red x, but now I see it. The bottom figure in that sculpture is a little disturbing as it's apparent position with it's back to the viewer makes the position of the arm impossible. I need to see another angle.
The texture of the second sculpture is really remarkable.
Both do capture the emotion of the moment and that, more than the composition and the texture is what makes them masterworks.
The word rape in this context means "abduction". It refers to an event supposed to have occurred in the early history of Rome, shortly after its foundation by Romulus and a group of mostly male followers. Seeking wives in order to found families, the Romans negotiated with the Sabines, who populated the area. The Sabines refused to allow their women to marry the Romans, fearing the emergence of a rival culture. Faced with the extinction of their community, the Romans planned to abduct Sabine women. Romulus invited Sabine families to a festival of Neptune Equester. At the meeting he gave a signal, at which the Romans grabbed the Sabine women and fought off the Sabine men. The indignant abductees were implored by Romulus to accept Roman husbands.
The realism is what I liked about it Eyes. Now please don't get me wrong. NOT THE THEME!!! But the realism with which someone could work stone like that is amazing - at least to me.
It's amazing sculpture but the realizm is a bit disturbing.
The realism... art can give people a window into intense emotions - but from a safe distance.
In each sculpture, because they are so realistic, you can sense the intense fear of the women.
For instance, just how much would you believe she is fighting to get away if you didn't see the sinews in his hands as he grips her and presses his fingers in to hold on? Without that detail and emotion, there would be some historians today who would suggest that the artist was trying to say that the Sabine was a willing participant in the abduction.
It's disturbing, yes, but for some being disturbed in that way will move them to be more empathetic to others.
After all, it's not like we see that kind of everyday. (THANKFULLY)
IMHO - great art is that which moves the viewer emotionally and is flawless in it's execution.
An incredible talent, that no doubt took a great deal of time and effort to develop.
Unfortunately, I think "Art" in general lost it's way somewhere between "impressionism" and "cubism" and the like.
Now we have Musem curators that blather on about nonsensical attributes of mere splotches of paint or blocks of rock. And likewise ridicule the unwashed heathen that dare state the obvious "my dog coulda done this". Maybe the pendulum will start on it's return swing sometime soon?
Ron - His arm is going up her back and reaching for her higher shoulder. It's like he's trying to grab her and pull her down.
This event is apparently a big theme among artists.
I was referring to the figure in the forground. It was disturbing to me as it appeared he had his back to the viewer making the head angle awkward and the arm impossible.
Maybe my blood caffeine and nicotine levels weren't up sufficiently when I saw that, however, I went and got a better photo and now it makes perfect sense.
I think this photo is better since it shows the womans facial expression better and it shows the entire figure in the foreground. Since it's from further away and shot from a higher angle, the bad foreshortening effects are also eliminated.
I like that 2nd pic in post #1 best, showing the hand imprint on the thigh ... and the detail of her shoulder ... looks like a photo.
Here is a high res' picture from a different angle of the first one ... I guess the streaks of marble are more evident ... looks like barb wire on the arm ...?
Maybe we're thinking of the same photo but its the one in post one showing the man's right hand on her leg and his left hand around her waist. SO realistic.
What I do not get is the bottom guy. Is he also a rapist or someone who will not help and is afraid of the rapist himself?
He almost looks horrified. But does not look like he is going to do anything as he is UNDER the other guys legs - a submissive stance
Dot - today this would be entitled the "Abduction of the Sebine Women"
The man who is grabbing the woman to abduct her is a Roman. The man on the ground is a Sebine who appears to have been over powered.
Remember here too that Giambologna's self-imposed limitation was that he wanted to sculpt this from one piece of marble, so it has to be a rather tight composition.
And yes, Sudo, the photo with the man's hands on the woman's hip is not from the sculpture that Rhino posted - although that sculpture has an equal amount of incredible detail.
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lindyhopper
Dooj, I'm only seeing the second image.
Giambologna was an amazing sculptor and that is a great shot of his work. Absolutely insane detail and realism in the figures.
Thanks for posting them... but what is the first one.
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doojable
I got a little confused. The first sculpture is "Rape of the Sebine Woman" by Giambologna
and the second is "Rape of the Proserpine" by Bernini.
Both sculptures are very similar. I just marveled at the detail in the second photo.
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Ron G.
I didn't comment on the first post since I couldn't really see the spiral movement in that little box with the red x, but now I see it. The bottom figure in that sculpture is a little disturbing as it's apparent position with it's back to the viewer makes the position of the arm impossible. I need to see another angle.
The texture of the second sculpture is really remarkable.
Both do capture the emotion of the moment and that, more than the composition and the texture is what makes them masterworks.
Great post!
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doojable
Ron - His arm is going up her back and reaching for her higher shoulder. It's like he's trying to grab her and pull her down.
This event is apparently a big theme among artists.
Here is the story in Wikipedia
Here is another version of the Myth
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Eyesopen
It's amazing sculpture but the realizm is a bit disturbing.
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RumRunner
The realism is what I liked about it Eyes. Now please don't get me wrong. NOT THE THEME!!! But the realism with which someone could work stone like that is amazing - at least to me.
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doojable
The realism... art can give people a window into intense emotions - but from a safe distance.
In each sculpture, because they are so realistic, you can sense the intense fear of the women.
For instance, just how much would you believe she is fighting to get away if you didn't see the sinews in his hands as he grips her and presses his fingers in to hold on? Without that detail and emotion, there would be some historians today who would suggest that the artist was trying to say that the Sabine was a willing participant in the abduction.
It's disturbing, yes, but for some being disturbed in that way will move them to be more empathetic to others.
After all, it's not like we see that kind of everyday. (THANKFULLY)
IMHO - great art is that which moves the viewer emotionally and is flawless in it's execution.
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George Aar
I can understand "art" like this.
An incredible talent, that no doubt took a great deal of time and effort to develop.
Unfortunately, I think "Art" in general lost it's way somewhere between "impressionism" and "cubism" and the like.
Now we have Musem curators that blather on about nonsensical attributes of mere splotches of paint or blocks of rock. And likewise ridicule the unwashed heathen that dare state the obvious "my dog coulda done this". Maybe the pendulum will start on it's return swing sometime soon?
One could hope...
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Ron G.
I was referring to the figure in the forground. It was disturbing to me as it appeared he had his back to the viewer making the head angle awkward and the arm impossible.
Maybe my blood caffeine and nicotine levels weren't up sufficiently when I saw that, however, I went and got a better photo and now it makes perfect sense.
I think this photo is better since it shows the womans facial expression better and it shows the entire figure in the foreground. Since it's from further away and shot from a higher angle, the bad foreshortening effects are also eliminated.
Here's another view...
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doojable
The other amazing thing is that this piece was sculpted from one piece of stone, which is not the norm.
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rhino
I like that 2nd pic in post #1 best, showing the hand imprint on the thigh ... and the detail of her shoulder ... looks like a photo.
Here is a high res' picture from a different angle of the first one ... I guess the streaks of marble are more evident ... looks like barb wire on the arm ...?
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doojable
I think that wire was secured by conservators to either repair or prevent breakage.
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Dot Matrix
Okay, I get it
I get the detail. I get the emotiuon
What I do not get is the bottom guy. Is he also a rapist or someone who will not help and is afraid of the rapist himself?
He almost looks horrified. But does not look like he is going to do anything as he is UNDER the other guys legs - a submissive stance
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Sudo
Rhino,
Maybe we're thinking of the same photo but its the one in post one showing the man's right hand on her leg and his left hand around her waist. SO realistic.
sudo
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doojable
Dot - today this would be entitled the "Abduction of the Sebine Women"
The man who is grabbing the woman to abduct her is a Roman. The man on the ground is a Sebine who appears to have been over powered.
Remember here too that Giambologna's self-imposed limitation was that he wanted to sculpt this from one piece of marble, so it has to be a rather tight composition.
And yes, Sudo, the photo with the man's hands on the woman's hip is not from the sculpture that Rhino posted - although that sculpture has an equal amount of incredible detail.
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