The Abduction of Europa is one of the most popular subjects in the history of European art. At different times many artists including Titian, Veronese, Rubens and Rembrandt returned to it. It originates from Greek mythology. According to the legend, Europa, daughter of the Phoenician king Agenor, was so beautiful that even Zeus the Thunderer could not resist. He turned into a bull and kidnapped Europa while she was having a walk with her friends on the seashore and married her. From then on Europa lived on Crete and gave birth to three sons. She was the ancestor of the European civilization.

P.S. Gamzatova Dagestan Museum of Fine Arts displays a copy from the work of Paolo Veronese (1528–1588) — one of the best representatives of the Venetian school. His artistic paintings were characterized by vibrant colors and casual interpretation of Gospel subjects: he often pictured Biblical characters in 16th century Venetian interiors thus connecting eternal and modern. Veronese remained in history as a chronicler of Venetian life at the times of economic and cultural prosperity as well as a master of monumental and decorative painting. He also painted decorative panels in the Doge’s Palace (Venice), pictures in the San Marco library (Venice) and numerous other similar works.

In The Abduction of Europa Veronese almost completely follows the classical subject matter. The fact is that five years earlier the artist’s free attitude to the Bible’s characters led to the inquisition’s anger. He had to slightly change the subject of the painting The Feast in the House of Levi and rename it (initially it was titled Last Supper).