The Rape of the Daughters of Leucippus
Replica of the painting from Peter Paul Rubens
The Rape of the Daughters of Leucippus
Size of the copy: 218 x 204 cm
Technique: oil on canvas
Exhibited: Užutrakis palace, Lithuania.
Creating replicas of paintings is a big hobby of mine and Peter Paul Rubens’ The Rape of the Daughters of Leucippus is the largest painting I have copied so far. Painting these works layer by layer teaches me to understand the process and the considerations of the old masters. The painting process also helps me to acquire a sensitivity for thin and delicate layers of paint and to deepen my understanding of light and shadow, cold and warm colors and the correct usage of pigments.
Please have a look at the time-lapse video if you are interested in the painting process.
“Rubens’ life-size painting illustrates the mythical tale recounted by the poets Theocritus (c.300-250 BCE) and Ovid (43 BCE – 18 CE), concerning the abduction of the daughters of King Leucippus of Argos, by the twin brothers Castor and Pollux (Polydeuces), together known as the Dioscuri. According to legend, these twins had the same mother, Leda, but different fathers: Castor was the earthly son of Tyndareus, King of Sparta, while Pollux was the divine son of Zeus, who seduced Leda in the guise of a swan. The brothers were set on marrying Hilaeira and Phoebe - the daughters of Leucippus - who were also known as the Leucippides. Unfortunately, they were already betrothed to the twin brothers Lynceus and Idas of Thebes, sons of Tyndareus’s brother Aphareus. So to enforce their will, Castor and Pollux carried off the two women to Sparta, where they were duly married, and both gave birth to sons: Phoebe bore Mnesileos to Pollux; Hilaeira bore Anogon to Castor.”