Metamorphosis
The legends of Europe and Io
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Il ratto d'Europa
by Paolo VERONESE (n.k.)
Europa and the bull
by Henri MATISSE (1929)
The rape of Europe
by Simon VOUET (1640)
Europe (no433)
by Gustave MOREAU ( - )
Europe (no191)
by Gustave MOREAU( - )
Enlevementd'Europe
by Francois BOUCHER (1747)

Zeus saw Europa for the first time on the beach at Sidon, Phoenicia where her father Agenor was king. Filled with love for her, he appeared to her in the shape of a magnificent gentle white bull. Once Europa, had overcome her initial fright she climbed upon his back for a little ride. However, as soon as she was safely seated, the bull moved towards the sea, carrying the object of his affection with him. Together, they crossed the water to Crete where Zeus finally cast off his disguise and revealed his divine identity to Europa. The mortal woman became yet another of Zeus' lovers. Three sons were born from that union.
Jupiter and Io
by Lambert SUSTRIS (n.k.)

A princess, Io was also a priestess of Hera at Argos. Her beauty attracted Zeus who fell in love with her. According to one legend, in order to avoid his wife's jealousy, Zeus caused a cloud to form on a sunny day, and used this cloud to conceal his lovemaking with the virgin princess.


Other painters who tackled the subjects include:

Claude Lorrain, Bartolomeo Bellano, Hubert-Noel Louis, Alfred Andre, Giovani D. Ferretti, Jean-Baptiste M. Pierre, Il Riccio, Giovanni B. Tiepolo, Francesco Zuccarelli.

 
The rape of Europa
by Francois BOUCHER ( - )
Io and Jupiter
by G. SCHOCHINGER ( - )
Io
by Antonio CORREGIO (c1530)
Juno verrast Jupiter en Io by
J. J. Van BRONCHORST (1655-56)
 

The origin of the cards and the publishers :

Io by Antonio CORREGGIO (16th) Salon J.P.P. 1061
        - J. Plichta, Prague I.-321
Io und Yupiter by G. SCHOCHINGER (not known)
        - 117 Russian postcard/realphoto
Juno verrast Jupiter en Io by Johannes J. Van BRONCHORST (1655-56)
        - A9051, Art Unlimited, Amsterdam
Jupiter and Io by Lambert SUSTRIS (not known)
        - The Hermitage, Leningrad (St Petersburg)
Europa and the Bull by Henri MATISSE (1929) Australia National Gallery, Canberra
        - 00202, Australia National Gallery, Canberra
Enlevement d'Europe by Francois BOUCHER (1747) Musee du Louvre, Paris
        - IC-00-5002, Reunion des Musees Nationaux, Paris
El rapto de Europa by Simon VOUET (1640) Musee Thyssen Bornemisza, Madrid
        - Fundacion Coleccion Thyssen Bornemisza, Madrid
Il ratto d'Europa by Paolo Veronese (n.k.) Palazzo Ducale, Venezia
        - 722, Vera fotografia
The rape of Europa by Francois BOUCHER (n.k.) The Wallace Collection, London
        - P484, The Wallace Collection
Europe (no 433) by Gustave MOREAU (Musee Gustave Moreau, Paris)
        - IC-00-4922, Reunion des Musees Nationaux, Paris
Europe (no 191) by Gustave MOREAU (Musee Gustave Moreau, Paris)
        - G. 1578, Castelet, Boulogne

Bibliography :
Dictionary of Classical Mythology by Pierre Grimal
   Copyright : 1991, Penguin Books, London, England

Encyclopedia Mythica - website address: http://www.pantheon.org/
Mythography Exploring Greek, Roman, and Celtic Mythology and Art - website address: http://www.loggia.com/myth/myth.html
 

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