Offered by Antichità Castelbarco
Francesco Albani (Bologna 1578 - 1660) Circle of
The Rape of Europa
oil on canvas 46 x 63 cm. with gilded wooden frame (19th century) 70 x 85 cm.
This elegant work depicts, through a composition of great dynamic effect, an episode from Greek mythology that tells of one of Jupiter's many amorous adventures; it is the abduction of Europa, daughter of the king of Tyre, a city in Phoenicia, as described by the Latin poet Ovid in his Metamorphoses (Met. II, vv. 846-875).
This work can be attributed to an artist who followed the stylistic and compositional models of the Bolognese Francesco Albani (Bologna 1578 - 1660), presumably active within his close circle in the 17th century or at the latest in the early years of the following century. A pupil of Annibale Carracci, Albani is considered, together with Domenichino and Guido Reni, to be one of the major exponents of Bolognese classicism, extremely sought after by the cultured clientele of the time.
Thanks to a style characterised by idyllic compositions, and therefore pleasing to the more intimate taste of his clients, the majority of the work produced by Albani's workshop is to be found in the field of mythological paintings. Looking at the canvas in detail, we see the agitated moment when Zeus, having transformed himself into a bull, kidnaps the beautiful Phoenician princess Europa as he flees towards the island of Crete. The girl, dressed in a long deep blue robe, is overwhelmed by the event and looks towards her handmaidens still on the shore.
She is holding on to the horns of the bull, which is running with great force and passion through the rough waves of the sea, while four fluttering cherubs help the cunning Zeus in his endeavour: one is supporting the princess, another is holding the reins of flowers and the last is holding up a fluttering red cloth, a habit often used by Albani to emphasise movement.
The composition, in particular, draws inspiration, albeit with variations, from the Rape of Europa kept at the Uffizi Gallery, created by Albani in 1639 for Count Angelo Oddi of Perugia (https://it.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rape_of_Europa_-_Francesco_Albani.jpg).
Many versions were based on the Uffizi version, given that the canvas remained in Albani's workshop for a long time. These include the one in the Roman collection of the Marquis Patrizio Patrizi, and also the versions in the Louvre and the Colonna Gallery in Rome.
These compositions were extremely well received by critics and were highly praised by European collectors for their aesthetic and decorative value. In our case, the canvas is accompanied by a beautiful 19th century carved and gilded wooden frame.
Delevery information :
We take care of and organise the transport of the purchased works, both for Italy and abroad, through professional and insured carriers.
We take great care We personally take care of the packaging, to which we devote a great deal of care: each work is carefully packed, first with arti- cle material, then with a custom-made wooden box.
Should you have the desire to see this or other works in person, we would be happy to welcome you to our gallery in Riva del Garda, Viale Giuseppe Canella 18, we are always open by appointment only.
