Unknown

Rape of Europa

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About this artwork

Ovid describes in The Metamorphoses how Europa, Princess of Tyre, was abducted while playing on the shore with her maidens by the all-powerful god Jupiter in the guise of a bull. Carracci shows her riding on the bull’s back accompanied by tritons and flying putti in a magical coastal landscape. The picture was painted for a member of the noble Farnese family, and is attributed by some scholars to Agostino’s more famous brother Annibale.

Updated before 2020

  • artist:
    Unknown
  • title:
    Rape of Europa
  • date created:
    Unknown
  • attributed to:
    Agostino Carracci (1557 - 1602) Italian
  • materials:
    Oil on canvas
  • measurements:
    51.20 x 64.50 cm; Framed: 73.00 x 89.00 x 5.00 cm
  • object type:
  • credit line:
    Private Collection on long term loan to the National Galleries of Scotland
  • accession number:
    NGL 004.96
  • gallery:
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