1518
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Rape of Europa is a 1518 ink by Benedetto Montagna, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows a woman sitting on a bull while two other figures stand nearby. The woman holds a palm frond, and the bull’s muscles are drawn with sharp lines. In the background, a small town sits beside a river, with trees and hills framing the scene. The artist used fine lines and shading to create depth, especially in the figures’ clothing and the landscape. This style was common in Renaissance engravings. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like Montagna carved detailed images into metal.
Benedetto Montagna (c. 1480–1555/58) was an Italian engraver and painter. Montagna was born in Vicenza, the son of the leading painter of the city, Bartolomeo Montagna, with whom he trained and perhaps continued to…
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