Rape of the Daughters of Leucippus

Castor and Pollux (Polydeuces), the sons of Leda and Zeus, abducted Hilaera and Phoebe, daughters of Leucippus King of Argos, shortly before their weddings. Rubens has created a masterpiece in which four figures and two horses are in motion, all within a square, full picture plane and to still preserve a certain amount of naturalness. A refined choreography underlies the grouping.