Title: The Intervention of the Sabine Women

Author: Jacques Louis David

Period: Neoclassicism

Year: 1799

Medium: Oil on Canvas

Location: Louvre

The scene that David is capturing is the retaliation of the Sabine’s to the Romans. The Romans initially had come to the Sabines and had taken their women, as depicted by many artists in the work “Rape of the Sabine Women”, and now the Sabines were now coming to the Romans to attack them. The leader of the Romans (Romulus), had taken Hersilia, the daughter of Tatius, the leader of the Sabines, and had borne two children to Romulus. In the painting we see Hersilia stopping the attack between the two forces, as well as other women and children. The point that is prominent in the painting is Hersilla standing between Tatius and Romulus just before they are going to fight. Romulus is on the right with his shield, and his arm is in full climax of energy, just about to release his javelin. We also see Tatius as he is holding his shield, waiting to spur off any attacks from Romulus.