Who painted The Rape of Europa?

The Rape of Europa was painted by Pierre Gobert in 1715.

Where can I see The Rape of Europa?

The Rape of Europa is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is The Rape of Europa?

The Rape of Europa is associated with Rococo painting.

Can I buy a print of The Rape of Europa?

Museum-quality prints of The Rape of Europa are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

The Rape of Europa

Pierre Gobert , 1715

The Rape of Europa is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Pierre Gobert. It dates from 1715 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

Gobert’s composition shows the bull kneeling as Europa is lifted onto its back, emphasizing the moment of seizure rather than subsequent flight.

The painting depicts the classical myth in which Jupiter, assuming the form of a bull, abducts Europa, a Phoenician princess. Gobert’s composition shows the bull kneeling as Europa is lifted onto its back, emphasizing the moment of seizure rather than subsequent flight. The scene is rendered without overt violence, focusing instead on the transformation and the passage from mortal realm to divine will.

Symbolically, the work encapsulates themes of desire, metamorphosis, and the irresistible power of the gods. By casting Jupiter in bovine guise, the artist visualizes the intersection of human and divine agency, underscoring the myth’s function as an etiological tale explaining the naming of the continent Europe.

Technique & Style

Pierre Gobert's The Rape of Europa is executed in oil paint on a canvas support. The work measures 124 cm in height and 157.5 cm in width, presenting a mythological narrative typical of the artist's genre classification. Created in 1715, the painting depicts the abduction of Europa by Jupiter in bull form, alongside the figure of Marie Louise Élisabeth d'Orléans.

The medium and dimensions correspond to the standard scale of early 18th-century French mythological portraiture held in major museum collections.

History & Provenance

Pierre Gobert executed this mythological painting in 1715. The work, titled The Rape of Europa, was created using oil paint on canvas. It entered the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1882 through a bequest from John Jones, who died that year.

Upon acquisition, the museum assigned it the accession number 549-1882. While one cataloging source suggests a creation date around 1700, the specific inception year of 1715 is recorded in the museum's primary documentation.

The painting is held by the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, where it carries accession number 549-1882. It was bequeathed to the museum in 1882 by John Jones.

The work has been catalogued by the V&A under the title The Rape of Europa, with dimensions recorded as 124 cm in height and 157.5 cm in width.

Overview

The Rape of Europa is a 1715 oil painting by Pierre Gobert, held at the Victoria and Albert Museum.