Rape of the Sabine Women by Giambologna

The Rape of the Sabines, a plaster model created by Giambologna in 1582, stands as a masterpiece of sculptural composition at the center of the Hall of the Colossus. This work is the original model for the marble version that still stands today under the Loggia dei Lanzi in Piazza della Signoria.

What makes this sculpture particularly remarkable is Giambologna’s innovative approach to composition. For the first time in sculptural history, he created a large-scale marble group featuring three intertwined figures forming a single spiral movement. The sculpture demonstrates extraordinary technical virtuosity in its execution, with figures that seem to defy gravity as they twist upward in a dramatic spiral.

Interestingly, when Giambologna first created this work, it didn’t have a specific subject – it was conceived as a demonstration of his technical mastery in creating a complex group of figures that could be viewed from all angles with equal dramatic effect. The title “Rape of the Sabines” was suggested later by the scholar Vincenzo Borghini.

The composition features:

• A young man lifting a woman
• A squatting older man between the young man’s legs
• A continuous spiral movement that leads the eye upward
• Multiple viewpoints offering different dramatic perspectives

The model’s presence in the Accademia is particularly valuable as it allows visitors to study the artist’s creative process and compare it with the final marble version in the Loggia dei Lanzi. The plaster version reveals details of Giambologna’s working method and the technical challenges he faced in translating this complex composition into marble.

Both these works represent different aspects of Renaissance Florence:

• The Cassone Adimari provides insight into social history and daily life
• The Rape of the Sabines demonstrates the technical and artistic achievements of Mannerist sculpture

These pieces help visitors understand both the social fabric and artistic innovations of Renaissance Florence, making them essential viewing at the Accademia Gallery.