The Abduction of Helen by Jacopo Tintoretto, 1578-79. Recorded November 12th, 2025.

American Friends helps share the Prado's collection with a weekly session in English on the museum's social media. All of our projects are made possible thanks to contributor support. Join and help us do more. https://www.afpradomuseum.org Tintoretto, Jacopo Robusti (Venice 1518/19, Venice 1594) The Abduction of Helen was originally in the Gonzaga collection before being passed to the collection of King Charles I of England. It was then purchased in 1652 following King Charles' death by the Spanish ambassador whereby it entered the Spanish Royal Collection. Tintoretto depicts Helen being taken to a ship while fierce combat occurs on the shore, and of interest characterizes the scene as a battle between Turks and Christians, drawing on the prolific images of this sort that followed the battle of Lepanto in 1571. In that sense, he portrays Helen as an allegory of Venice itself.