Inspired by a Titian portrait of Europa, Manship created a trio of sculptures about that myth, of which this is the last and most elaborate.[2] They were part of a series of sculptures he created in Paris in the early 1920s that earned him wide acceptance as a serious force in contemporary art. The early appreciation for archaic Greek sculpture he had acquired during his fellowship in Rome combined with his recent anatomy studies with Solon Borglum, enabling him to create a balance between realistic and formal elements.[4] Manship was very fond of his Europa sculptures and often gave souvenir copies to friends.[3] A copy was recently sold at auction for $458,500.[4]
Acquisition
Manship gave one copy directly to the Smithsonian.[3] Four other casts have been located. The Columbus Museum's copy was the last to be acquired by a public institution. It had originally been given to artist Leon Kroll, and a letter from Manship to Kroll describing the gift is held at the Archives of American Art. LACMA's copy had originally been given to Manship's supporters Edwin and Sarah Holter, and their descendants cherished it for 70 years until the generosity of the American Art Council and the Shirley Filiatrault Trust helped LACMA acquire it in 1998.[2] The IMA received its copy in 1950 as a gift of Lucy M. Taggart in memory of her brother Thomas D. Taggart.