"Heroic Abduction" or "Heroic Rape" is a concept of honorable abduction by a god or hero as a glorious event. It was a pragmatic idea of the political and social necessity of specific actions where artists have glorified, sanitized, and aestheticized the violent and brutal act of, rape, itself. To be taken by god or heroes, even forcibly, was considered a great honor as the 'standard' way of thinking among the ancients were considered, one which Renaissance artists have perpetuated.
Rubens painted a few heroic rape paintings of women being abducted by male figures and either dramatically accepting their position as an object or resisting the act and show more distress when being abducted.
Rubens painted a few heroic rape paintings of women being abducted by male figures and either dramatically accepting their position as an object or resisting the act and show more distress when being abducted.
In the Rape of the Daughters of Leucippus c. 1617, Castor and Polydeuces, who abducted, sexually violated, and defiled two sisters, Phoebe
and Hilaeira, daughters of King Leucippus, by force and later coerced them into marriage. At first glance, one might view this image as an example of arrogant masculine ignorance yet elevates the central females in contrast of sexual energy and tension, aspects of the piece that
suggest force, fear, and submission are seen through the work’s evocative movement.
While one female figure exemplifies the eager acceptance of her abduction, the other expresses fear and defeat. The two daughters both healthy in figure and weight, help provide more examples of Rubenesque qualities within the folds of their stomachs, back, and the curves in their thighs, arms, and calves. Their abduction, although does not present sexual rape, tantalizes sensuality and abrasive forcefulness of their captors hoisting them away on horseback. Their abduction is an example of heroic abduction by heroic soldiers who were captivated by their beauty and elite status, honoring them with a new life, despite its distressful beginning. |
In Rape of Persephone c. 1636-8, Rubens' style is much more sketchy and detailed, allowing the figures to be layered on top of one another, bringing them foreword with well-defined forms in a contrast of chiaroscuro that allow the contours of their body to push themselves forward without the need of dark line work to outline their forms.
As the story goes, Persephone (Persephina), daughter of Demeter (Ceres) is being abducted by Hades (Pluto) in a moment of madness while Aphrodite (Venus), Artemis (Diana), and Athena (Minerva) vainly try to stop him. Demeter, Goddess of Nature, was devastated when her daughter was dramatically abducted by Hades until Zeus (Jupiter) degrees that Persephone would spend half the year with Hades and the other half with her mother. During the months that Persephone is with Hades, Demeter's depression creates fall and winter, a time when nature sleeps and awaits a new beginning.
Persephone's figure like the Cupids guiding Hades' chariot to the Underworld, present a range of dimples and folds within the waist and stomach as well as muscle within the neck, shoulders, and back. Their bodies are lightly and subtly rendered with a range of color and juxtaposition, adding depth and realistic form to their bodies and hair. The abduction in this painting is by a god among goddesses rather than with a hero. It presents a hierarchy above that of the previous image with the Daughters of Luecippus.
Both mythological stories display two sides of heroic abduction, concluding that whether by a god or hero, abducting women is a sign of honor and glory, being swept away off their feet and taken away despite the fear, distress, and concern on their faces.
As the story goes, Persephone (Persephina), daughter of Demeter (Ceres) is being abducted by Hades (Pluto) in a moment of madness while Aphrodite (Venus), Artemis (Diana), and Athena (Minerva) vainly try to stop him. Demeter, Goddess of Nature, was devastated when her daughter was dramatically abducted by Hades until Zeus (Jupiter) degrees that Persephone would spend half the year with Hades and the other half with her mother. During the months that Persephone is with Hades, Demeter's depression creates fall and winter, a time when nature sleeps and awaits a new beginning.
Persephone's figure like the Cupids guiding Hades' chariot to the Underworld, present a range of dimples and folds within the waist and stomach as well as muscle within the neck, shoulders, and back. Their bodies are lightly and subtly rendered with a range of color and juxtaposition, adding depth and realistic form to their bodies and hair. The abduction in this painting is by a god among goddesses rather than with a hero. It presents a hierarchy above that of the previous image with the Daughters of Luecippus.
Both mythological stories display two sides of heroic abduction, concluding that whether by a god or hero, abducting women is a sign of honor and glory, being swept away off their feet and taken away despite the fear, distress, and concern on their faces.