17_Your_Comments2009_1st_half.htm  

to P.H.Gommers@skynet.be

The seat of the European Union Parliament in Strasbourg is located in several buildings. In front of the Chuchill building on the Avenue président Schuman we find a very modern sculpture of the Europe Symbol. It is a gift of the Cretan village Agios Nikolaos (St.Nicolas) and was inaugurated on october 31, 2005

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The Cretan sculptors are the brothers Nikos and Pandelis Soliriades. The sculpture 4,0 m long, 1,53 m wide and 3,6 m high. The material exists of a bronze Europe and the bull in stainless steel; the back of the bull, indicating the transformation of Zeus into the bull, is a combination of steel and glass.

January 1, 2009                 Europa Direct, Antwerp

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The studio of Guido Reni produced several paintings of Europa and bull. A painting by   Michel Desubleay (French 1602-1668)- head of  his studio in Bologna -  was recently discovered. It is discussed and shown in the Catalogue Raisonné by Dr.Albert Cottino, 2001

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The contemplative pose of Europe is very much in style of Europa paintings of Reni,  f.e. in Die Verführung der Europa, Kunstgewerbe Museum, Berlin, 1988, illustrations 130 &132.

February, 1, 2009                                                      An attentive reader 

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The Italian sculptor Luigi Galligani continues in a modern approach the Italian Renaissance tradition of figurative sculpture.. His many Greek-Roman mythical female figures he groups together under the name 'Meditarranean Myths' . Of course "Europe on a lying bull " features among them, represented in a romantic grouping.

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This smaller bronze of the large Europe was spotted on the AHOI exhibition of Fine Art in Rotterdam, februari 2009 from the Gallery Bell 'Arte of Maastricht. Luigi Galligani was born in Pistoia in 1957, studied in Florence and is highly appriciated in Italy. His work has been exhibited with success in several European countries .

March, 2009                        spotted by Christine van der Lubbe

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The Dutch sculptor Eric Claus was already mentioned in Comments of August 2003.  A new statue of the artist is to be seen in the sculpture garden of the Havixhorst estate, Meppel, Netherlands.

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The bull watching over a sleeping Europe.

Meppel, 11-04-09                                        visitor sculpture garden.

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During the Spanish Succession War, 1701-1713 the French Louis XIV tried a.o. to occupy the Austrian Southern Netherlands. The Great Alliance, formed in 1701 between the German/Austrian emperor, Great Britain, The Republic of the Seven Provinces, Prussia, Hannover and Denmark tried to push the French back. In 1709 the Allied Forces under the duke of Marlborough recovered the city of Doornik/Tournai. This medaillion from an unknown sculptor memorizes this particular feat.

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It is a silver high reliëf medal; diam. 7.6 cm. Both sides were coined separately and then put together. The Head represent the Alliance under auspices from Europe sitting on the bull in front. The Latin heading reads: "VIRTUES ET CONCORDIA EUROPAM A GALLORUM TYRANIDE VINDICANT" or "Cooperation and integrity delivered Europe from Gallic tyrany". The Tail shows Peace trumpeting forth Victory with in her hand the laurelwreath; the banners lying on the ground.

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In the end the Peace Treaty of Utrecht of 1713 was not accepted by king Philips V of Spain. He invaded Sardinia and Sicily. Great Britain, France, the Dutch Republic and Austria concluded the Quadruple Alliance in 1718/9 and attacked Spain. By the Treaty of the Hague of 1720 Spain accepted, finally, the conditions of the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht. Below an Austrian medal coined by the Austrians at the conclusion of the Quadruple Alliance.

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The silver medaillion is 5,6 cm in diam. Europe with sword sitting on bull/Jupiter holding a shield on which four shaking hands. The Head reads  "PRO QVIETE PUBLICA"  or "Peace in Public Interest". The medailleur is Richter or Routtiers. The tail side shows emperor Carolus VI of Austria.

Haarlem, 15-05-09         drs. J.E.L.Pelsdonk, Conservator Numismatisch Kabinet, Teyler Musem

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Centrally located in the Netherlands lies Utrecht. And again more or less in its centre is the Rijnlaan, named after the river Rhine, crossing a large part of Western Europe. Since the opening of the Rhine/Danube canal, the two rivers form one waterway from the North Sea to the Black Sea. On the Rijnlaan we find an  Europe statue by Gerard van der Leeden.

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Gerard van der Leeden was born in 1935. He studied a.o. at the Rijksacademie van Schone Kunsten in Amsterdam. His statues have been placed in various Dutch towns and abroad. His style is in genaral figurative. This bronze statue is about 2 by 2.5 meters.

Utrecht, june 2, 2009                  spotted by J.Pelsdonk