Follower of Hendrick Goltzius

The subject is taken from Ovid’s Metamorphoses (2:836-875). Jupiter fell in love with the Phoenician Princess Europa, the daughter of Agenor King of Tyre. So disguising himself as a young white bull and mingling in the herds of her father, he inveigled himself to Europa and her companions as they played on the sea shore. Fooled by the bull’s apparent good nature, Europa caressed the bull and draped it in garlands of flowers, before getting on its back. Jupiter then slowly swam out to see with the young maiden, who only then began to panic. It was not until he reached the island of Crete that he assumed his true form before ravishing her.

The composition derives from an engraving by Golzius, listed by Hollstein, Dutch & Flemish etchings, engravings and woodcuts, 1450-1700, p. 130, no. 10-61 (see RKD Library Mount).