The Judgment of Paris
1731
chalk
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1731
chalk
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This sketch shows a crowded scene of naked figures tangled in a rocky landscape. At the center, three women stand near a goat, while a man in the middle holds an apple. Others float or climb around them, some looking down, others reaching up. The lines are loose and quick, with shading that makes forms pop. The drawing is framed like a shield, with a red chalk that’s soft and smudged in spots. This style was common for quick studies before a bigger painting. Next, look up Baroque to see how this fits into that dramatic, busy style.
