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DiaporamaEuropa’s abduction by Jupiter
On the foreground there are three female figures on a hill, one of which is kneeling; on the floor, a basket of flowers and fruits. In the background, a woman is riding a white bull.Once again, the inscription on the back (“Jupiter in viaggio incontre al sole”), a symbolic one, does not represent the real episode painted. It is actually Europa’s abduction, daughter of Agenor, one of Jupiter’s (Zeus) lovers that would later become mother of Minos. In love with the young woman, Jupiter transformed himself into a remarkably beautiful white bull and, after getting closer to her, won her confidence and abducted her. This story emerges slightly in Iliad (14.321 sqq.) and was given great prominence by Ovid in Metamorphoses (2.833-875), the passage depicted in this painting.
Johann Wilhelm Baur (1607 – 1642)
Johann Wilhelm Baur (1607-1642): German Baroque painter of detailed vedute, miniatures & mythological scenes inspired by Ovid. Explore his art & legacy!
Museu da Fundação Dionísio Pinheiro e Alice Cardoso Pinheiro (Aguada, Portugal)
Explore Portuguese art history at Museu da Fundação Dionísio Pinheiro e Alice Cardoso Pinheiro! Discover masterpieces by Lino & Carneiro, antique furniture & ceramics – a cultural treasure in Águeda.
About this artwork
- Title: Europa’s abduction by Jupiter
- Artist: Johann Wilhelm Baur
- Year: 1641
- Format: Panoramic
- Copyright status: Public domain
- Where to see it: Museu da Fundação Dionísio Pinheiro e Alice Cardoso Pinheiro
- Color palette: Earthy
- Color hue: Ochre to Sepia
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