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Lot Essay
Claude Lalanne’s L'Enlèvement d'Europe portrays the notable Greek myth in an expressive, yet stylized sculpture. As the myth goes, the chief Greek god Zeus became enamored with the princess Europa, daughter of Agenor, King of Tyre. The shapeshifting god transformed himself into a bull in order to approach her. Europa, falling for this guise, began to play with the seemingly tame and gentle beast, climbing upon his back. Seizing this opportunity of false comfort, Zeus kidnapped Europa, who holds on to one of the bull’s horns for her life, to the island of Crete.
The scene is translated beautifully into bronze by Claude Lalanne, who depicts the serenity of the moments just before the abduction. The female figure representing Europa sits leisurely atop the bull who nuzzles into her arm draped gently over his horn. Her feet are perched along his hide with one nearly caressing the playfully swishing tail.
This model was Claude’s first solo sculpture created using the lost wax technique. The skilled technical execution and life-size scale of the work make it a truly majestic and impressive work of the artist’s oeuvre.
The scene is translated beautifully into bronze by Claude Lalanne, who depicts the serenity of the moments just before the abduction. The female figure representing Europa sits leisurely atop the bull who nuzzles into her arm draped gently over his horn. Her feet are perched along his hide with one nearly caressing the playfully swishing tail.
This model was Claude’s first solo sculpture created using the lost wax technique. The skilled technical execution and life-size scale of the work make it a truly majestic and impressive work of the artist’s oeuvre.