‘Europa and the Bull’, French bronze sculpture, late 17th-early 18th century

Description: ‘Europa and the Bull / The Rape of Europa’, French patinated and lacquered bronze sculpture, late 17th-early 18th century. Figural group mounted to a separately cast naturalistic bronze base, elevated upon an ebonized wood plinth adorned with gilt-bronze trim. Overall dimensions (including plinth) 13 x 9 ½ x 5 ½. No observable signatures or foundry marks. Generally very good to excellent condition, minor rubbing to extremities, occasional scuffing, minor restorations to wood base. A magnificent example with fine brown/black patina of this rare and sought-after sculpture. This sculpture can be associated with several similar to identical castings attributed to a Parisian workshop at the turn of the 18th century. The only notable variation between the two models produced by the workshop is the presence or absence of a garland of flowers around the bull’s neck. An example in the Dresden Museum was purchased in 1699 for Augustus the Strong, Elector of Saxony (link below). Another example is in the royal collection of Sweden at Drottingham Castle, purchased in Paris prior to 1740. A unique example was sold at Sotheby’s London in July 2023 (below), in which the Europa and the Bull group is set upon a larger base with the addition of two nymphs. According to the Sotheby’s catalogue for the sale of 2023, the larger sculptural group is secondary to the original model of Europa and the Bull. However, the physiognomy of the larger group, with Europa’s outstretched arm and open hand ready to receive flowers being offered up by the nymphs, rather suggests that the larger group was the original conception, from which the more commonly found group offered here was abstracted. Thus, contrary to the catalogue notes for an earlier Sotheby’s sale (January 24, 2008), there is likely nothing missing from the figure’s right hand. The myth of the rape of Europa (form Latin raptus, ‘snatched away, abducted’, translating Greek harpagē, ibid.) is an aetiological myth, explaining the naming of the European continent. Europa was a Phoenician princess. One day, Zeus saw her and was filled with desire. Transforming himself into a beautiful bull, he manifested himself before her. Europa climbed upon the bull’s back, and the bull flew (or swam in some versions of the myth) away to Crete. Reverting to his more familiar anthropomorphic form, Zeus lay with Europa, producing Minos and Rhadamanthus (and according to later sources, Sarpedon). Provenance: from a private collection, New York. Dresden version (Grünes Gewölbe, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen): https://skd-online-collection.skd.museum/Details/Index/220462 Similar Sales: Sotheby’s Lot 174, 24 January 2008 (New York, Sale Number N08404)https://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2008/important-old-master-paintings-including-european-works-of-art-n08404/lot.174.html Christie’s Lot 125, 6 December 2007 (London, Live Auction 7445)https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-5019231 Sotheby’s. Lot 129, 4 July 2023 (London, Sale Number L23264)https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2023/master-sculpture-from-four-millennia/the-rape-of-europa

Price: 11250 USD

Location: New York, New York

End Time: 2024-12-26T21:32:23.000Z

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