
These four pictures are from a series illustrating stories from ancient Roman history. They show (top to bottom): The Attack on Cartagena; 'The Continence of Scipio'; 'The Rape of the Sabines'; and 'The Intervention of the Sabine Women'.
Two other pictures from the same series are known: a 'Coriolanus' and a 'Scipio rewarding the Soldiers'. 'The Continence of Scipio' and 'Rape of the Sabines' were popular topics for illustration. The format of the pictures suggests they were made for the decoration of a room.
The series is now thought to be the work of a minor Italian painter of the third quarter of the 16th century who was familiar with the work of Giulio Romano and Raphael, on whose styles they depend.