(Piano del Cilento 1662–1728 Naples)
The Rape of Europa,
oil on canvas, 152 x 203 cm, framed

Provenance:
Marchesi di San Germano, Naples 19th century;
by descent to the Baroni Incarnati, di Ruvo di Puglia, Naples early 20th century; thence by descent to the present owner

We are grateful to Professor Giuseppe Scavizzi for suggesting an attribution to Paolo de Matteis on the basis of a high resolution digital photograph.

The present painting clearly displays the influence of Luca Giordano’s models and can be compared to the Rape of Europa (Milan, private collection) painted by Giordano between 1683 and 1685 (see Luca Giordano: 1634–1705, Naples 2011, ed. by N. Spinosa, W. Prohaska, p. 284, no. 88).The luminous and clear palette used in the present work is typical of Neapolitan painting between the end of the seventeenth and the beginning of the eighteenth century. The composition also displays the influence of Roman classicism, which was dominant at the end of the seventeenth century, evident in the serene atmosphere which pervades the painting.

The Rape of Europa myth has fascinated artists for centuries; Jupiter, the most powerful of the gods, was in love with the princess Europa and decided to seduce her. He adopted the form of a beautiful white bull, and induced the girl to climb upon his back. As soon as she did, the bull made for the sea and carried the terrified Europa from her native Sidon to the island of Crete.

Professor Riccardo Lattuada has suggested an alternative attribution to Nicola Malinconico (Naples 1663-1721) for the present painting.