3-072-314 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Mythological Scene (Abduction of Europe?)-Fragment of a Cassone, end of 14th century. Additional Info: The Phoenician princess Europa is putting a wreath made of flowers on the head of a bull, unaware of the fact that Zeus, who fell in love with her, is hidden in this form. She also does not realise that as soon as she sits on its back, she will be kidnapped. The woman in a blue dress is probably Zeus' wife, Hera, who is following the faithless activities of her husband. The theme was taken from Ovid’s Metamorphoses (2 843-875).