The Abduction of Europa

Artist François Boucher French, 1703–1770

Dateafter 1747

MediumOil on canvas

Dimensions63 x 76 1/2 in. (160 x 194.3 cm)
Frame: 76 x 89 1/4 in. (193 x 226.7 cm)

ClassificationsPaintings

Credit LinePurchased with funds from the State of North Carolina

Object number52.9.119

On View

Not on view

ProvenanceCreated France, after 1747. François Armand d' Usson, Marquis de Bonnac (1716–1778), French ambassador to Holland (1751/2-1756); [his sale, November 21, 1757] [1]. Captain Salomon Pierre Prousteau (d. 1781), Paris; [his sale, P. Remy, Paris, June 5, 1769, no. 52]. Comte de Morny; [his sale, December 16-17, 1841, lot 61]; Warneck collection; [his sale, Hôtel Drouot, Paris, May 10, 1867, lot 1, illustrated]. Mason collection; [his sale February 1, 1875, lot 6, and sale March 1, 1876, lot 1; withdrawn both sales]; "Miss Mason," United States; with Nicholas M. Acquavella Galleries, New York; sold to NCMA, 1953.

[1] The only Bonnac sale of November 21, 1757 that has currently been found is a sale of the Marquis's considerable collection of shells on that date. The NCMA painting does not appear in that catalogue: "Catalogue raisonné d'une collection considerable de coquilles rare et choisies, du cabinet de M. le ***," (Paris: Helle & Remy, 1757).

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