The_Judgement_of_Paris_(Rubens)
The Judgement of Paris (Rubens)
Several paintings by Peter Paul Rubens
The Judgement of Paris refers to any of the several paintings of the Judgement of Paris produced by Peter Paul Rubens, though he did not match the 22 depictions of the subject attributed to Lucas Cranach the Elder. There were versions before about 1606, then he returned to the subject thirty years later; all take the opportunity to show nude females from different angles.[1]
The large versions of 1636 in London and 1639 in Madrid are among the best known. These both show Rubens' version of idealised feminine beauty, with the goddesses Aphrodite, Athena and Hera on one side and Paris accompanied by Hermes on the other. The 1636 version has a depiction of Cupid at the far left and Alecto above the goddesses,[2] whilst the 1639 version adds a Cupid between Hera (far right) and Aphrodite (centre).
Paris is a misplaced Trojan prince working as a shepherd,[3] and is accompanied by his sheepdog; his sheep are seen behind the figures in these late paintings.