French School, 14th century.

French School, 19th century.
“The Abduction of Europa.”
Bronze on a marble pedestal.
Measurements: 34 x 30 cm x 23 cm. 40 cm (height with base).

The work captures the moment when the god Zeus, transformed into a gentle white bull, seduces the Phoenician princess Europa. In this depiction, Europa appears seated on the animal’s back, holding a veil that flutters in the wind—a classic device used to convey movement and dynamism. The treatment of the clothing (wet drapery) and the delicacy of Europa’s features are characteristic of 19th-century French academic art, which drew on Baroque and Rococo models to create elegant and decorative scenes. The bull is not depicted as a wild beast, but rather with a wreath of flowers on its forehead, underscoring the romantic deception and the initial docility that makes the abduction possible.