The Abduction of Europa
Medium
oil on canvas
Dimensions
overall: 65.7 x 82.2 cm (25 7/8 x 32 3/8 in.)
Classification
Painting
Department
CF
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Chester Dale Fund
Accession Number
2010.115.1
Art Historical Context
In the opulent world of early 18th-century French, Jean-François de Troy *The Abduction of* (1716) captures a timeless myth from Greek mythology. Here, Zeus, disguised as a majestic white bull, carries off the beautiful Phoenician princess Europa across the waves, a tale of divine passion and transformation that has inspired artists for centuries. Painted in oil on canvas—a medium prized for its luminous colors, fluid brushwork, and ability to render dramatic light and texture— this work measures 65.7 x 82.2 cm, perfect for intimate yet grand display. De Troy, a leading Rococo painter active ...
About the Artist
Jean François de Troy · 1679–1752
Jean-François de Troy (1679–1752) was born in Paris into a family of artists, the son of the esteemed portrait painter François de Troy, under whom he first studied. After failing to secure the Prix de Rome, he traveled to Italy from 1699 to 1706 at his father's expense, residing initially at the French Academy in Rome and visiting northern Italian cities, where he absorbed influences from masters...