Kidnapping of Europe is a common plot in world art. An ancient Greek myth tells us that one day the daughter of a Phoenix king Europe was walking with friends by the sea. The girls were collecting flowers and laughing, their noisy games attracted the attention of the Zeus – god of thunder. He fell in love with beautiful Europe and decided to kidnap her, turning into a huge bull with glittering like gold wool. A silver spot was glowing on his forehead, similar to the moon’s glow, and the golden horns were curved as a young moon. When the girls saw the bull, they surrounded it. They stroked its golden wool, tried to touch curved horns. The bull approached Europe, and she began to play with it and stroke it affectionately. Beautiful Europe sat on the back of a bull, friends wanted to sit next to her. Suddenly the bull jumped up and quickly ran to the sea. Before the girls knew it, Europe had already sailed by the sea on the wide back of the bull with golden wool.
Europe is reaching forth arms to the friends, asking for protection. But no one could stop Zeus, he headed to Crete Island. This way all-powerful Zeus kidnapped young Europe from her home. He left her in Crete, where he spent his childhood. There Europe became Zeus' wife and gave birth to three sons.
Traditionally, artists placed the scene of kidnap in the center, but in Willarts 's painting, Europe is depicted in the background. In the foreground, on the slope of the hill, the artist depicted four semi-naked friends of Europe. A central figure is particularly expressive, reaching forth arms to the leaving friend. On the sandy shore, another of the friends was frozen turning to Europe. Next to the girls, the artist placed the grey uninhabited ruins of the castle with arches. Above the characters is troubled sky, closer to the fugitives the sky becomes clear. Europe is clenching a narrow scarf which looks like a rainbow in her hands.
The painting is signed: in the lower left corner the beginning of the author 's surname is indicated. Cornelis Willarts was born in a family of Dutch marine painter Adam Willarts. He learned painting from his father. Adam Willarts was one of the creators of the Artists’ Guild of Saint Luke in Utrecht, in 1611. Unlike his father Cornelis painted idyllic landscapes. There’s little information about his life.
Europe is reaching forth arms to the friends, asking for protection. But no one could stop Zeus, he headed to Crete Island. This way all-powerful Zeus kidnapped young Europe from her home. He left her in Crete, where he spent his childhood. There Europe became Zeus' wife and gave birth to three sons.
Traditionally, artists placed the scene of kidnap in the center, but in Willarts 's painting, Europe is depicted in the background. In the foreground, on the slope of the hill, the artist depicted four semi-naked friends of Europe. A central figure is particularly expressive, reaching forth arms to the leaving friend. On the sandy shore, another of the friends was frozen turning to Europe. Next to the girls, the artist placed the grey uninhabited ruins of the castle with arches. Above the characters is troubled sky, closer to the fugitives the sky becomes clear. Europe is clenching a narrow scarf which looks like a rainbow in her hands.
The painting is signed: in the lower left corner the beginning of the author 's surname is indicated. Cornelis Willarts was born in a family of Dutch marine painter Adam Willarts. He learned painting from his father. Adam Willarts was one of the creators of the Artists’ Guild of Saint Luke in Utrecht, in 1611. Unlike his father Cornelis painted idyllic landscapes. There’s little information about his life.
