Francesco Stringa (Modena, 1635-1709) "The Rape of Europe" oil on canvas 60 x 75 cm Bibl .: unpublished Thanks to Massimo Pulini for the attribution STRINGA, Francesco. - He was born in Modena on 20 August 1635, second son of Silvestro and Elisabetta Matteucci (Sala, 2012, p. 75). At the age of ten he began to attend the painting academy at the town hall of Modena, headed by Ludovico Lana. Unfortunately it was a few months' pupil due to the sudden death of the teacher. Since Modena was devoid of other valid schools of painting, Stringa, probably thanks to the help of his father who