A 1930’s bronze sculpture of Europa and the Bull by Albert Hinrich Hussmann.

Height: 48 cm.

Width: 60 cm.

Depth: 28 cm.

Albert Hinrich Hussmann (1874–1946) was a German artist and sculptor, he studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Berlin.

Europa and the Bull: Greek mythology tells us that Zeus was enamoured with the princess Europa and decided to seduce her, he transformed himself into a tame bull and mixed in with her father’s herds. While Europa and her helpers were gathering flowers, she saw the bull, caressed his flanks, and eventually got onto his back. Zeus took the opportunity and ran to the sea and swam with her on his back to the island of Crete. He then revealed his identity, and Europa became the first queen of Crete. Zeus later recreated the shape of the bull in the stars, which is now known as the constellation Taurus. Roman mythology adopted the tale of the Raptus, also known as “The Abduction of Europa” or “The Seduction of Europa”, substituting the god Jupiter for Zeus.

In Metamorphoses Book II, the poet Ovid wrote the following depiction of Jupiter’s seduction of Europa:

And gradually she lost her fear, and he

Offered his breast for her virgin caresses,

His horns for her to wind with chains of flowers

Until the princess dared to mount his back

Her pet bull’s back, unwitting whom she rode.

Then—slowly, slowly down the broad, dry beach—

First in the shallow waves the great god set

His spurious hooves, then sauntered further out

’til in the open sea he bore his prize

Fear filled her heart as, gazing back, she saw

The fast receding sands. Her right hand grasped

A horn, the other lent upon his back

Her fluttering tunic floated in the breeze.