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
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
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