Titian's Painting, The Rape Of Europa

The Rape of Europa has been the greatest piece of artwork I have happened across. The first time I looked at Tiziano Vecillio, or Titian’s painting I was mortified at the subject he had decided to paint about, and as I started researching the history of his painting I found myself disgusted with the true meaning of the painting. However, I also find myself dazzled by the spectacular artwork he has given the world, and the boldness he had to choose such a controversial myth to paint of. The painting was inspired by the myth of Jupiter being in love with a women named Europa. He decides that he needs to disguise himself as a bull so that Europa would get on his back. Afterwards, he would take her to the sea, heading towards Crete, where he
intended on raping her. (Isabella Stewart Gardner) According to Totally History, Titian painted The Rape of Europa between the time period of 1559 and 1562; furthermore, this means that this painting is a product of the high renaissance. One notable difference between the middle Ages and the Renaissance periods is that the Middle Age’s artists would not sign their work. In Titian’s painting he signed the lower left hand of his painting TitianVS. P. (Isabella Steward Garnder) Signing of paintings became an important part of the Renaissance era because it gave glory and mortality to the painters of the time. In the middle ages painters would paint to glorify god, so they hadn’t any need to sign their works. In addition to the history of the painting, the skill and artistry shown in the painting is phenomenal.
Titian puts every element that Giotto had introduced into play in The Rape of Europa. He uses a vanishing point in the far distance of the right hand side of the painting, so we see that his lines all lead to the right side of the painting. He also uses a technique known as sfumato when incorporating atmospheric perspective into his painting by blurring the mountains in the background, and he also uses foreshortening when painting Europa and one of the cupid’s legs. Titian created a foreground (Europa, Jupiter, and Cupid), a middle ground (the sea and a boy riding a dolphin), and a background (the mountains, and blurry human figures) in his painting as well. Lastly, he used Giotto’s element of color theory to bring a viewer’s attention to specific parts of the painting. I first noticed Europa in the painting compared to everyone else because of his use of the warm color, red, in the draping she was clinging
to. Furthermore, Titian’s ability to evoke emotions from me has gone far above what any other artwork has ever done.
I felt pain and sympathy for Europa especially knowing that it was far above her control. Also, I felt anger for the portrayal of it being an enjoyable experience for her. Every part of me boiled up with anger for the way this myth has been glorified as a secret desire of a women to be subject to that kind of torture. However, with that said I also see now how emotionally provocative artwork can be. I’ve never experienced something quite like it just by looking at a painting the feelings flooding over me was
unbelievable. In conclusion, I felt that The Rape of Europa was the most emotionally provocative and intricately painted artwork I have come across. I am especially impressed with how new Giotto’s painting elements were, but how he used every one of them to create a true embodiment of High Renaissance artwork. I also feel that Titian did a great job at putting himself into his work because before I even researched him I felt this connection to him that I’ve never quite experienced before. I have become a quick fan of Titian’s artwork, and I am truly inspired to see if any other artist or artwork will inspire me as this painting has. The Rape of Europa displays fear, desire, humiliation, and lust in such a way that I have never seen before.