Europa and the Bull: C.1-1935

Current Location: Gallery 26 (Lower Marlay)

Titles

Europa and the Bull

Maker(s)

Factory: Derby Porcelain Factory
Proprietor: William Duesbury & Co.

Entities

Figure

Description

Soft-paste porcelain figure of Europa seated on a white Bull, supproted on a rock on a scrolled base, painted in enamels ,and gilded

Soft-paste porcelain figure of Europa, slip-cast, with applied details, lead-glazed, and painted in pale turquoise, pale green, olive-green, yellow, flesh, pink, dark pink, orange-red, red, purple, pale pinkish-brown, and black enamels, and gilded. The unglazed underside has a large circular ventilation hole, and three lpatch marks, one very large. The asymmetrically shaped base has a scrolled and waved edge, and rises up in the middle into a substantial rock on which the figures are supported. The white Bull is in profile to the right, with its right leg bent, its tail curved up over its back, and its head turned to its right to look back towards Europa. Its hooves, and the tips of its horns are gilded, and it has a garland of pink, and pale orange-red flowers and foliage round the top of its head and neck. It has a red mouth, pale flesh-brown muzzle, pinkish-brown brows, and black pupils. Europa is seated sideways on the Bull’s back, looking towards it, and placing her left hand on its head, and her right hand below its neck. Her right leg is bent and behind her left, which is extended downwards. She has pale pinkish-brown hair drawn back into a twisted chignon and ornamented with a pink and gold frontlet. Her lips are red, her cheeks, pale flesh, her eyebrows, pale pinkish-brown, and the pupils of her eyes, black.She wears a pale yellow, floral-patterned tunic lined with pink, and edged with gold, and having round the high waist, a pink and gold belt. The tunic reveals her left shoulder and breast. From her left shoulder a pale turquoise drape billows out behind her, and then crosses in front of her over her knees. On her feet and shins, she has red sandal straps.

Notes

History note: Unknown before donor

Legal notes

Given by Mrs F. Leverton Harris

Measurements and weight

Height: 28.5 cm
Width: 17.5 cm

Place(s) associated

Derby ⪼ Derbyshire ⪼ England

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (1935) by Harris, Frederick Leverton, Mrs

Dating

18th Century
George III
Circa 1760 - 1765

Note

Europa, the daughter of Agenor, King of Tyre, was abducted by Zeus in the form of a friendly white bull. The story was told by Ovid in Metamorphoses, Book 2, 836-75. The subject in art was explored in an exhibition at the Kunstgewerbemuseum, Berlin in1989. See Documentation

This model is E52 in Bradshaw's list of patch-marked models, 1759-69.,

School or Style

Rococo

People, subjects and objects depicted

Components of the work

Decoration composed of enamels ( pale turquoise, pale green, olive-green, yellow, flesh, pink, dark pink, orange-red, red, purple, pale pinkish-brown, and black) gold
Details
Exterior

Materials used in production

presumed lead Lead-glaze
Soft-paste porcelain

Techniques used in production

Slip-casting : Soft-paste porcelain, slip-cast, with applied details, lead-glazed, and painted in pale turquoise, pale green, olive-green, yellow, flesh, pink, dark pink, orange-red, red, purple, pale pinkish-brown, and black enamels, and gilded. The unglazed underside has a large circular ventilation hole, and three lpatch marks, one very large.