Abduction of Europa
unknown
Basic information
- ID
- Ж-3547
- Author
- unknown
- Name
- Abduction of Europa
- Date of creation
- 18th c.
- Technique
- oil painting
- Material
- canvas oil
- Dimensions (height x width, cm)
- 114 x 174
Additionally
- Type
- painting
- Genre
- mythological painting
- Plot
- Abduction of Europa
- Provenance
- Received from the Hermitage, 1955
- Exposition
- Potocki Palace
Information about author
Object description
The painting depicts the mythological scene of the abduction of Europa – the daughter of Agenor, king of Tyre. Artists from various eras have referenced this theme, refining dynamic compositional techniques. The ancient Roman poet Ovid recounts the myth of Europa in his "Metamorphoses": one day, a bull approached Europa by the seashore. The girl was mesmerised by its beauty. She stroked and caressed it. The bull lay down, and with a laugh, Europa sat on its back. However, the creature suddenly jumped up, dashed into the sea, and swam away. Alongside the bull appeared Poseidon, the god of the sea, and the Nereids. Poseidon guided the way and calmed the waves. Upon reaching the shore – on the island of Crete – the bull transformed into Zeus. From then on, Europa settled on the island and bore Zeus three sons: Minos, Rhadamanthus, and Sarpedon.
Legal regulation
Borys Voznytskyi Lviv National Art Gallery
