This oil painting is a stunning reproduction of the original painting of the same name by Paul Cézanne. The Abduction was painted in 1867 in the house of Cézanne’s childhood friend Emile Zola. Early in 1867 Cézanne told Zola he needed to create a composition that was ‘immense’ – To which he produced The Abduction. Other that this, there seems little particular reason why for Cézanne created this painting. However, it is felt that Cézanne’s need to create something immense signified his equal need to prove to Zola that historical painting was very much alive.

Cézanne was given to depression. Cézanne’s paintings from around 1861 until 1870 were created during what is referred to as the artist’s Dark Period: The dark hues and liberal use of black in this painting being typical of the work created during this time. Cézanne delved deep into a world of fantasy; and from 1866 in particular, many of Cézanne’s artworks depicted scenes of violence and eroticism.

Some historians believe the Abduction depicts Hercules rescuing Alcestis from the underworld: Even so, the general consensus is that the composition actually portrays Pluto abducting Prosperpine. Themes of Abduction, rape, and murder recurred within Cézanne’s work - The Rape (c.1867), and The Murder (c.1867–68). Today the original is part of the collection at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.