DescriptionCopy of Paolo Veronese The Rape of Europa Oil on canvas cm 83.5x65 This painting represents "The Rape of Europa", a mythological subject much loved in Renaissance and Baroque painting. The work depicts the scene from Greek mythology in which Zeus, in love with the princess Europa, transforms himself into a white bull to abduct her. Europa is the woman sitting on the white bull (Zeus). She is elegantly dressed, although her partially exposed breast suggests sensuality and vulnerability. Her handmaidens try to restrain her or react to the surprise of the scene. The animal has a docile and meek expression, with floral decorations on its head, which symbolize the deception used by Zeus to seduce Europa. The context is an idyllic landscape with lush trees, a blue sky and a sea in the distance. Several female figures and putti (winged cherubs) are seen flying high and participating in the action, emphasizing the mythological atmosphere. The putti crowning Europa with a garland of flowers reinforce the romantic and erotic tone of the scene. The whole is immersed in a golden light that accentuates the theatricality of the composition. The work is a copy inspired by Paolo Veronese, a master of the Venetian Renaissance known for his chromatic richness, the monumentality of his figures and his dynamic compositions. On the back the label: Property of H.R.H. the Duke of Aosta. Dimensions cm 83.5x65 Provenance Private collection Conditions Defects and restorations.