The Judgement of Paris

The Judgement of Paris

Title

The Judgement of Paris

[Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, No. 257]

Painting on limewood

Medium

Painting on limewood

[Cat. Graz 1995, 84-85]

Three goddesses decorated with opulent jewellery and wearing net-like pearl bonnets on their heads (excepting the middle figure) stand in front of a landscape. Each of the two figures on the left wears a transparent veil. A small figure of Cupid shown in flight at the top edge of the

Three goddesses decorated with opulent jewellery and wearing net-like pearl bonnets on their heads (excepting the middle figure) stand in front of a landscape. Each of the two figures on the left wears a transparent veil. A small figure of Cupid shown in flight at the top edge of the picture aims his arrow at the central goddess. The sleeping Paris clothed in armour is seated at the left edge of the painting and the Gods' messenger Hermes touches his left shoulder.

The head and forehand of a white horse are visible in the bushes behind Paris.

The scene takes place near a stream with a bridge, beyond a landscape with bushes and large trees opens out to reveal a castle on a rock.

[Herrschaft, Rabensteiner 2013]

Attribution
Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attribution

Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, 121, No.257]
[Suida 1923, 35-36]

Production dates
about 1515
about 1530 - 1535

Production dates

about 1515

[Cat. Graz 1995, 84-85]

about 1515 - 1519

[Suida 1923, 35-36]

about 1530 - 1535

[Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, 121, No. 257]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 87 x 59 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 87 x 59 cm

  • Including frame: 108 x 80.2 x 9.5 cm

  • [Cat. Graz 1995, 84-85]

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia on the stone at the left edge: serpent with elevated wings

Signature / Dating

  • Artist's insignia on the stone at the left edge: serpent with elevated wings

Inscriptions and Labels

none reverse: inventory number of the Alte Galerie
[Universalmuseum Joanneum, revised 2013]

Inscriptions and Labels

Inscriptions, Badges:

  • none

Stamps, Seals, Labels:

  • reverse: inventory number of the Alte Galerie

  • [Universalmuseum Joanneum, revised 2013]

Owner
Universalmuseum Joanneum
Repository
Alte Galerie, Schloss Eggenberg, Graz
Location
Graz
CDA ID
AT_UMJ_107
FR (1978) Nr.
FR257
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/AT_UMJ_107/

Provenance

  • purchased at beginning of 19th century from Mürzzuschlag with the assistance of Archduke Johann
    [Cat. Graz 1995, 84-85]

Exhibitions

  • Stockholm 1988, No. 57
  • 1992/3: The fine Arts Museums of San Francisco; IBM Gallery of Science and Art, New York City; The Smithsonian Institution, Washington; The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Cat. No. 61
  • Quebec 1995
  • Rabenstein 2000
  • Graz 2004/05

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Cat. Graz 1995 84-85
AuthorChristine Rabensteiner, Gottfried Biedermann, Gabriele Gmeiner-Hübel
TitleBildwerke. Renaissance - Manierismus - Barock, Gemälde und Skulpturen aus der Alten Galerie des Steiermärkischen Landesmuseums Joanneum in Graz
Place of PublicationKlagenfurt
Year of Publication1995
Show Literature
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979 121 No. 257 Fig. 257
AuthorMax J. Friedländer, Jakob Rosenberg
EditorG. Schwartz
TitleDie Gemälde von Lucas Cranach
Place of PublicationBasel, Boston, Stuttgart
Year of Publication1979
Show Literature
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1932 210b
AuthorMax J. Friedländer, Jakob Rosenberg
TitleDie Gemälde von Lucas Cranach
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1932
Link http://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/friedlaender1932
Show Literature

Research History / Discussion

In the first half of the 16th century the subject enjoyed great popularity, which is demonstrated by more than 20 versions by the Cranach workshop.

'By and large the depictions of 'The Judgement of Paris' consist of an interchangeable repertoire of pictorial elements. Hera, Aphrodite and Athena change their positions. The costume-like attire of the protagonists, that quite conforms with the taste of about 1500, can be found in paintings by Cranach of other subject matter. In the painting in Graz the armour worn by Paris conforms with contemporary fashion, whereas the Gods' messenger Hermes wears an imaginary costume. [...]

A comparision of the painting in Graz with the most well known (Cologne, Berlin, New York) and dated (Copenhagen, 1527; Basel, 1528; Karlsruhe, 1530) versions allows us to assume a dating of about 1515. A more detailed examination of this work reveals some stylistic and iconographical similarities. The version in Cologne, dated to about 1513, marks a terminus ante quem non. The version in Graz - of which there exists an almost identical version in the Uffizi in Florence - differs from the dated paintings in numerous details; for example the pictorial space is more restricted here and the landscape represented in the background is very limited.

[G. Biedermann, Cat. Graz 1995, 85]

  • The Judgement of Paris, about 1515

Images

Compare images
  • overall

Versions

The Judgement of Paris
  • The Judgement of Paris, about 1550 - 1600
  • IT_GdU_8728
  • Painting
  • Galleria Uffizi, Firenze

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

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Entry with no author
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