Flowers in a vase with two putti

Ignaz Stern, known as Stella (c 1680–1748) painted the large-format floral still life "Flowers in a Vase with two Putti" in Rome in 1748. The relief pattern on the vase is particularly interesting, with the detailed representations of the seductions carried out by the father of the gods.
Between putti and a beautiful, bare-breasted woman, a bull greedily licks the woman's arm, as she turns away. This is Europa, daughter of the Phoenician King Agenor, abducted by Jupiter disguised as a white bull.
Ovid describes the encounter: the snow-white bull ambles gracefully through the grass, gently allaying the girl's fears, so that she adorns his mouth with flowers and decks his horns with fresh flowers. Finally, the maiden climbs on to the bull's back. Jupiter seizes the opportunity to carry her off to Crete.
Stern has composed a lavish floral arrangement in the pale, silvery colours characteristic of the transition from Rococo to Neo-classicism, in baroque chiaroscuro, opening up a view of a plashing fountain. The scene includes references to Europa picking flowers and to the expanse of water across which the god carries her. The abduction of Europa was a frequent motif in antiquity, and later during the Renaissance and the Baroque periods. Unlike other tales of the abduction of women, that of Europa is a milder version, without violence. Jupiter uses his powers of transformation to charm Europa in the form of a gentle bull. The affectionate manner with which he wins the princess's trust is deceptive, until she unsuspectingly climbs on to his back. Ovid comments on the approach of the god, who has his son Mercury drive a herd of cattle to the very beach where he disguised himself as a bull: "Dignity and love do not blend well, nor do they continue long together."

Translated catalogue text from:
Ducke Astrid: Verführung in der griechisch-römischen Mythologie und der Historie. In: Habersatter Thomas, Ducke Astrid (Hrsg.): Verführung. Verlockende Schönheit - tödlicher Reiz, Residenzgalerie Salzburg, Salzburg 2015, S. 37-58, Iganz Stern, gen. Stella, Blumen in Vase mit zwei Putten, S. 39, Abb. 14, S. 40, Abb. 15, S. 41
Translation: Gail Schamberger MA, Salzburg