The Judgment of Paris (Elector Joachim II's exemplum panels)

The Judgment of Paris (Elector Joachim II's exemplum panels)

Title

The Judgment of Paris (Elector Joachim II's exemplum panels)

[cda 2012]

Painting on limewood (Tilia sp.)

Medium

Painting on limewood (Tilia sp.)

[Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten, Berlin - Brandenburg, revised 2011]

The classical mythological story about Paris, the son of a Trojan king, ends with a tragic error of judgement. He must choose the most beautiful of the three goddesses Hera, Athena or Aphrodite. Each goddess promises him something: Hera offers him power, Athena offers him wisdom and Aphrodite promises him

The classical mythological story about Paris, the son of a Trojan king, ends with a tragic error of judgement. He must choose the most beautiful of the three goddesses Hera, Athena or Aphrodite. Each goddess promises him something: Hera offers him power, Athena offers him wisdom and Aphrodite promises him the love of the most beautiful woman in the world. Paris chooses Aphrodite. Helena the most beautiful mortal is married to the Spartan King Menelaos. Her abduction leads to the Trojan war and the downfall of Troy.

Compared with other depictions of the subject, not only by Cranach, but also by other artists the painting in Berlin is characterized by the fact that the goddesses are indistinguishable. All three wear nothing more than a thin veil, which doesn't conceal their body and numerous necklaces. Two of them look towards Paris, whereas the third one, who touches his armor, looks out at the viewer. Behind the goddesses the messenger Hermes has raised his staff with which he beats Paris on the chest, warning him of female seduction with a loud cry and admonishing him to make a prudent decision.

The scene takes place against a backdrop of thick undergrowth where Paris's white horse stands and beyond which a landscape unfolds. A cherub hovers in the sky above with his bow drawn.

[see Elke A. Werner, Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 202, no. III.21

Attributions
Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder
Lucas Cranach the Elder (workshop)

Attributions

Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten, Berlin - Brandenburg, revised 2011] [Exhib. Cat. Berlin 1937, no. 116]

Lucas Cranach the Elder (workshop)

Lucas Cranach the Younger and Workshop (Lucas Cranach the Younger?) [Sandner et al. 2015, 132]

Lucas Cranach the Younger

'seems more like Lucas Cranach the Younger'
[Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, 153, No. 409B]
Lucas Cranach the Younger and Workshop (Lucas Cranach the Younger?) [Sandner et al. 2015, 132]

Production dates
about 1540 - 1545
after 1537

Production dates

about 1540 - 1545

[Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten, Berlin - Brandenburg, revised 2011]

about 1540

[Exhib. Cat. Berlin 1937, no. 116]

after 1537

[Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, 153, No. 409B]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 209.5 x 107.2 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 209.5 x 107.2 cm

  • [Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten, Berlin - Brandenburg, revised 2011]

Signature / Dating

none

Owner
Stiftung Preussische Schlösser und Gärten Berlin-Brandenburg
Repository
Grunewald hunting lodge
Location
Grunewald
CDA ID
DE_SPSG_GKI1185
FR (1978) Nr.
FR409B
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SPSG_GKI1185/

Connected Works

David and Bathseba (Elector Joachim II's exemplum panels)
  • David and Bathseba (Elector Joachim II's exemplum panels), about 1540 - 1545
  • DE_SPSG_GKI1186
  • Painting
  • Stiftung Preussische Schlösser und Gärten Berlin-Brandenburg
David and Goliath (Elector Joachim II's exemplum panels)
  • David and Goliath (Elector Joachim II's exemplum panels), about 1540 - 1545
  • DE_SPSG_GKI1187
  • Painting
  • Stiftung Preussische Schlösser und Gärten Berlin-Brandenburg
The Judgment of Kambyses (Elector Joachim II's exemplum panels)
  • The Judgment of Kambyses (Elector Joachim II's exemplum panels), about 1540 - 1545
  • DE_SPSG_GKI1188
  • Painting
  • Stiftung Preussische Schlösser und Gärten Berlin-Brandenburg

Provenance

  • since 1793 in the Berlin palace
    [Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 200-201, nos. III.20-23]
  • East-Berlin, Bodemuseum
    [Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, 153, no. 409B]

Exhibitions

Berlin 1937, no. 116
Berlin 2009/10, No. III.21

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Sandner, Heydenreich, Smith-Contini 2015 132, 136, Fn. 61 Fig. 3a
AuthorGunnar Heydenreich, Ingo Sandner, Helen Smith-Contini
TitleVeränderungen beim Unterzeichnen in Cranachs Werkstatt und die Arbeitsweise von Sohn Lucas
Publicationin Elke A. Werner, Anne Eusterschulte, Gunnar Heydenreich, eds., Lucas Cranach der Jüngere und die Reformation der Bilder
Place of PublicationMunich
Year of Publication2015
Link https://lucascranach.org/application/files/5215/6337/7366/Heydenreich_Sandner_Smith-Contini_2015_-_Unterzeichnung.pdf
Pages128-141
Show Literature
Wohlberedt 2015 194, 203
AuthorAstrid Wohlberedt
TitleDie Gerechtigkeit des Kaisers Trajan aus der Cranach-Werkstatt, ehemals im Gotischen Haus in Wörlitz
Publicationin Kulturstiftung Dessau-Wörlitz, ed., Cranach im Gotischen Haus in Wörlitz, Exhib. Cat. Wörlitz
Place of PublicationMunich
Year of Publication2015
Pages194-203
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009 A 202 No. III.21 Fig. III.21
EditorStiftung Preussische Schlösser und Gärten Berlin-Brandenburg
TitleCranach und die Kunst der Renaissance unter den Hohenzollern. Kirche, Hof und Stadtkultur
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication2009
Show Literature
Most, Wolf et al. 2009 88-89
AuthorMechthild Most, Anja Wolf, Peter Klein, Undine Köhler, Jens Bartoll, Eva Wenders de Calisse
TitleZur Maltechnik der beiden Cranach und ihrer Werkstatt. Ergebnisse der technologischen Untersuchung der Bildtafeln der Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten
Publicationin Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten Berlin-Brandenburg, Evangelische Kirchengemeinde St. Petri-St. Marien, eds., Cranach und die Kunst der Renaissance unter den Hohenzollern, Exhib. Cat. Berlin
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication2009
Pages86-97
Show Literature
Erichsen 1997
AuthorJohannes Erichsen
TitleZwei Schweriner Dokumente zu Lucas Cranach
JournalKunstchronik
Issue50/2
Year of Publication1997
Pages49-53
Show Literature
Michaelis 1989 28
AuthorRainer Michaelis
TitleDeutsche Gemälde 14.-18. Jahrhundert. Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1989
Show Literature
Moos 1988
AuthorPeter von Moos
TitleGeschichte als Topik. Das rhetorische Exemplum von der Antike zur Neuzeit und die historiae im "Policraticus" Johanns von Salisbury
Place of PublicationHildesheim, New York
Year of Publication1988
Show Literature
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979 153 No. 409B
AuthorMax J. Friedländer, Jakob Rosenberg
EditorG. Schwartz
TitleDie Gemälde von Lucas Cranach
Place of PublicationBasel, Boston, Stuttgart
Year of Publication1979
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Basel 1974/1976 613-621
AuthorDieter Koepplin, Tilman Falk
TitleLukas Cranach. Gemälde, Zeichnungen und Druckgraphik
Volume1, 2
Place of PublicationBasel, Stuttgart
Year of Publication1974
Link http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bsz:16-diglit-104522
Show Literature
Schade 1974 439 No. 324
AuthorWerner Schade
TitleDie Malerfamilie Cranach
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication1974
Link http://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/schade1974
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Berlin 1937 41 116
EditorStaatliche Museen, Berlin
TitleLucas Cranach d. Ä. und Lucas Cranach d. J. Gemälde, Zeichnungen, Graphik
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1937
Show Literature
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1932 329b
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
Friedländer 1906/1907 67-70
AuthorMax J. Friedländer
TitleAltdeutsche und altniederländische Schulen
Publicationin Paul Seidel, ed., Gemälde alter Meister im Besitze Seiner Majestät des deutschen Kaisers und Königs von Preussen
Place of PublicationBerlin, Leipzig, Vienna, Stuttgart
Year of Publication1906
Pages45-77
Show Literature
Rumpf 1794 131
AuthorJohan Daniel Friedrich Rumpf
TitleNeuester Wegweiser durch die Königl. Preußischen Staaten. Ein Handbuch für fremde und Einheimische. Beschreibung der aeussern und innern Merkwürdigkeiten der Königlichen Schlösser in Berlin, Charlottenburg und bey Potsdam
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1794
Show Literature

Research History / Discussion

‘The four large exemplum panels, which belonged to Elector Joachim II depict stories from classical antiquity and the old testament, that were popular during the renaissance as exempla of virtue. They were distributed in books for the education of princes (>>Fürstenspiegel<<) as well as being used to decorate representative rooms in castles and town halls. Associated with the depiction of these narratives was the idea that the virtues and vices of illustrious figures could provide standards and role models for political action. The exempla of virtue could on the one hand have a moralizing-didactic character by illustrating correct behavior to the princes or councillors; they could also serve the legitimization of political power and interests by justifying the ruler’s virtuous behavior. The panels in Berlin illustrate the monarchical virtues of moderation, wisdom, justice and courage. […]

It may be assumed, that the complex content and composition of the four paintings were based on a design by the father. These were then executed rapidly – probably under the supervision of Lucas Cranach the Younger - by workshop members. This would explain slight inconsistencies in the proportions and other formal details. Friedländer, Rosenberg and Schade on the other hand suggest that the painting is an autographed work by the son.‘

[Elke A. Werner, Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 200-201, no. III.20-23]

‚About 1500 ‚The Judgement of Paris‘ became a popular theme among German humanists, because a decision for power, wisdom or love was understood as a choice of the correct future path of life. Accordingly the ruler should not follow the bad example of Paris, but should instead choose wisdom.’

[Elke A. Werner, Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 202, no. III.21]

  • The Judgment of Paris (Elector Joachim II's exemplum panels), about 1540 - 1545

Images

Compare images
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Technical studies

01. 2010Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr

Underdrawing

- an underdrawing is not readily visible; probably executed with a dry drawing material (chalk), which was smudged slightly; revisions may then have been carried out employing a fluid medium and a brush?

Attribution:

- Lucas Cranach the Younger?

[Smith, Sandner, Heydenreich, cda 2012]

  • photographed by Gunnar Heydenreich
  • photographed by Ingo Sandner

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

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Entry with no author
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