This is the first of Cranach's several versions of The Judgment of Paris. According to Greek mythology, the goddess Eris (Discord) tossed an apple labeled - to the fairest - among the Olympian gods. Jupiter sent the messenger-god Mercury to tell Paris, prince of Troy, to award the prize. The
This is the first of Cranach's several versions of The Judgment of Paris. According to Greek mythology, the goddess Eris (Discord) tossed an apple labeled - to the fairest - among the Olympian gods. Jupiter sent the messenger-god Mercury to tell Paris, prince of Troy, to award the prize. The three goddesses who claimed the apple offered bribes. Juno promised wealth and power, Minerva military prowess, and Venus the love of the most beautiful woman on earth. Paris's choice of Venus, and his abduction of the most beautiful woman, - the Spartan queen, Helen-, led to the Trojan War.
Cranach's portrayal of this subject was influenced by Guido delle Colonne's 'Historia Destructionis Troiae', a fanciful medieval narrative of the Trojan War. This describes Paris tethering his horse and falling asleep after losing his way in a hunting expedition, at which Mercury appears in his dream and presents the three goddesses. In his painting the artist teases Paris - as well as the viewer - with an agonizing choice: the goddesses are nearly indistinguishable, and equally enticing.
- Attribution
- Lucas Cranach the Elder
Attribution
Lucas Cranach the Elder | [Kimbell Art Museum, revised 2013] |
- Production dates
- about 1512 - 1514
about 1513
Production dates
about 1512 - 1514 | [Kimbell Art Museum, revised 2013] |
about 1513 | [Exhib. Cat. Frankfurt 2007, 326, No. 101] |
about 1512 | [Grimm 1998, 79] |
- Dimensions
- Dimensions of support: 43 x 32.2 cm (17 x 12-3/4 in.)
Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 43 x 32.2 cm (17 x 12-3/4 in.)
[Kimbell Art Museum, revised 2013]
- Signature / Dating
Artist's insignia at the bottom left on the fountain: winged serpent with elevated wings facing left; in yellow paint
Signature / Dating
Artist's insignia at the bottom left on the fountain: winged serpent with elevated wings facing left; in yellow paint
- Inscriptions and Labels
- on the apple (depicted as a glass orb): 'AMORTX.N'
Inscriptions and Labels
Inscriptions, Badges:
- on the apple (depicted as a glass orb):
'AMORTX.N'
- Owner
- Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth
- Repository
- Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth
- Location
- Fort Worth
- CDA ID
- US_KAMFW_AP2004-03
- FR (1978) Nr.
- FR041
- Persistent Link
- https://lucascranach.org/en/US_KAMFW_AP2004-03/