Martin de Voos (Antwerp, Belgium, 15/02/1532 - Antwerp, Belgium, 04/12/1603), The Rape of Europa, c. 1570-1575. Oil on oak panel, 133.7 x 174.5 cm. Donation by Don Horacio Echevarrieta in 1919, Mauritshuis, Netherlands.

This painting—perhaps the most elegant of all those executed by Martin de Vos—tells the story of the Phoenician princess Europa, whom Jupiter, ruler of the gods, abducted in the guise of a bull. Enamored of the young woman, Jupiter took her to Crete, and even today we owe the continent's name to that mythical love affair. Various classical sources refer to this myth, the most famous of which is Ovid's Metamorphoses . In this case, the story is portrayed as a triumphant journey: the putti flutter about celebrating Jupiter's success, and the princess radiates a certain serenity. However, the young woman's uncomfortable posture warns us that we are witnessing a brutal abduction, and the piercing gaze of the robust bull, facing the viewer's, confirms this suspicion.

As we walk around the canvas, we see three different scenes, depicted in distant planes, a pictorial device reminiscent of earlier Flemish painting. In the upper left corner, Europa reappears, bathing and playing with her companions before the irruption of Jupiter. Behind Mercury—in a pose inspired by Raphael—a small procession leads a cow to the altar of a temple. Apparently, some citizens built a temple in honor of Europa after her abduction, so this scene may have been intended as an epilogue.

Martin de Vos was a notable Antwerp artist of the late 16th century. This painting demonstrates his virtuosity in multiple ways. In addition to drawing inspiration from various written sources—combining them with his own innovative approaches to the subject matter—De Vos combines his knowledge of the elegant Italian style, acquired during his travels throughout the country, with his Flemish training in capturing anecdotal details. In doing so, he references various visual models existing both north and south of the Alps. (Lieneke Nijkamp)