The Judgment of Paris

About this work

You see three goddesses—Hera, Athena, and Venus—standing naked in a sunlit grove while a young man hands Venus a golden apple. A peacock, a helmet, and a cupid hover nearby. Wtewael painted this tiny (only 14 inches tall) but packed scene on copper, which makes the colors glow like stained glass. The story comes from Greek myth: Paris picks Venus, sparking the Trojan War. Look how Venus twists her body—she’s showing off, but her face stays calm. To see how other artists painted the same moment, look up *sfumato*.