The Abduction of Europa

In 1807 Prince Camillo Borghese sold a large part of his family's ancient sculpture to his brother-in-law, Napoleon. This small panel, painted by Cesari around 1603 to 1606 and probably bought from him by Cardinal Scipione Borghese, had passed by the late 18th century to Pietro Camuccini, a Roman dealer. Camillo bought it back in the 1810s or 1820s to close the gaps. The story comes from Ovid. Jupiter, disguised as a bull, has let the princess Europa climb onto his back and is now carrying her out to sea, while her companions cry out from the shore. Up on the rocks at the right, a herdsman drives the cattle among which the god had hidden. In the clouds, Cupid rides an eagle, Jupiter's bird, which the museum thinks may also allude to the eagle in the family's coat of arms.