Rape of the Sabines is likely to have been painted during Josephine’s years as a student in Europe (1891–1896). It is a copy of the monumental Peter Paul Rubens original, which is located at the National Gallery in London.
Legend says that the Romans abducted Sabine women to populate the newly built Rome. The resultant war was only ended by the women throwing themselves and their children between the armies of their fathers and husbands.
