Artwork
The Judgement of Paris
The Judgement of Paris is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Lucas Cranach the Elder. It dates from 1527 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Cranach's treatment transforms the classical myth into a courtly tableau consistent with his Northern Renaissance interpretation of mythological subjects.
The painting depicts the mythological Judgement of Paris, drawn from ancient Greek legend. The scene shows Paris alongside the three goddesses Hera, Aphrodite, and Athena, with a horse and a tree trunk also visible in the composition. A necklace is likewise depicted, likely serving as the prize of the contest.
Cranach's treatment transforms the classical myth into a courtly tableau consistent with his Northern Renaissance interpretation of mythological subjects. The work functions as both a narrative image of the divine beauty contest that precipitated the Trojan War and a moralizing display, warning viewers against the seductive dangers of sensual choice.
Technique & Style
The work is executed in oil paint on a wooden panel, a technique typical of early sixteenth-century panel painting. The composition belongs to the mythological genre, portraying the Judgement of Paris with the figures of Paris, Hera, Aphrodite, Athena, a horse, and a necklace. The painting's formal arrangement follows the narrative clarity characteristic of Lucas Cranach the Elder's workshop.
History & Provenance
Lucas Cranach the Elder painted The Judgement of Paris in 1527, working in oil on panel, measuring 50.5 cm in height and 38 cm in width. The painting is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen. No earlier ownership chain or commission details are recorded in the available sources, and no specific inventory or accession number is disclosed in the available documentation.
Context
The Judgement of Paris is a 1527 oil painting on panel by Lucas Cranach the Elder, classified as a mythological work. It portrays the moment of Paris choosing between Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite, accompanied by a horse and other details. The composition belongs to Cranach's broader production of Northern Renaissance mythological subjects, reflecting contemporary interest in classical narratives. The painting is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen.
Overview
Lucas Cranach the Elder completed The Judgement of Paris, an oil painting, in 1527. This work presents a scene from classical mythology, featuring prominent goddesses. It is currently housed in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
The composition includes several figures set within a detailed landscape, characteristic of the artist's approach to narrative subjects.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Lucas Cranach the Elder was a German Renaissance painter and printmaker in woodcut and engraving.
