The abduction of Europe

Mediums: tempera, cardboard.
Location: The State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow, Russia.

Serov took the subject of this picture from ancient Greek mythology. Zeus fell in love with Europa, the daughter of Phoenician king Agenor. As the princess and her friends were walking on the beach, he appeared in front of them in the form of a beautiful bull. Europa sat on the back of the bull. Then, he jumped into the sea and took the princess to Crete, where she became Zeus’ wife.
Serov got the idea for this painting during his trip to Greece and Crete in 1907. He studied the remains of the Knossos palace there.