Please enjoy the beautiful views of four huge mural oil paintings that have been on display in Italian & European National Museums of Art. They featured different scenes of the same story, “Abduction of the Sabine Women.” I am also showing an amazingly detailed and clear back-and-white copper plate print that I acquired from the Louvre Museum Paris on one of my visits.
In addition, I am also glad to share a sculpture on the same subject which I acquired from Florence, Italy. The original large-than-life marble sculpture by Italian-Flemish sculptor Giambologna is place at the Loggia dei Lanzi in Piazza della Signoria, Florence, opposite the statue of Perseus holding Medusa’s head by Benvenuto Cellini. The sculpture shows a young woman being held captive by a strong man and the woman’s father pleading for her release while stooping below the thighs of the abductor.
According to Roman historian Livy, the abduction of Sabine women occurred in the early history of Rome shortly after its founding in the mid-8th century BC. Romulus and his predominantly male followers perpetrated it. It is said that after the foundation of the city, the population consisted solely of Latins and other Italic people, in particular male bandits. The Romans devised a plan to mass abduct young Sabine women during the festival of Neptune Equester. They planned and announced a celebration of games to attract people from all the nearby towns. The women from Sabine were abducted to become Roman wives to populate the city. This incidence became a frequent subject of painters and sculptors during the Renaissance and post- Renaissance eras.
Dr Tan It Koon
Tan It Koon
Before retirement, Dr Tan It Koon was, among many appointments, Head of Clinical Biochemistry at SGH’s Dept of Pathology. He was the Deputy Chairman of the National Theatre Trust and Chairman for Grants and Scholarships of the Spore Cultural Foundation. He received the National Day Awards, PBM, and PPA, for his contribution to cultural and community development and excellence in Public Administration.
