Judgment of Paris, fine XVIII - inizi XIX secolo

oil painting on canvas, in black and gold lacquer frame. Italian school.

The mythological legend tells that at the wedding of the mortal Peleus with the nymph Teti, from whose union would then be born Achilles, all the gods had been invited except for Eris, the goddess of discord. The indignant goddess for the outrage, presented herself equally at the party and threw a splendid golden apple with the inscription "to the most beautiful". Athena, Hera and Aphrodite present at the banquet began to claim the apple itself, claiming the primacy of its beauty. To resolve the dispute Zeus ordered to rely on the judgment of the most beautiful of mortals: Paris, son of the king of Troy, Priam. Ermes was commissioned to bring the three goddesses in front of the young Trojan and each of them to favor his own victory, he promised him an extraordinary reward. Era promised to make him the most powerful man on Earth, Athena to grant him the gift of wisdom and success; Aphrodite promised him that he would marry Elena, the most beautiful woman in the world. Paride, preferring this last gift, assigned the apple and the primacy of beauty to the goddess Aphrodite. The goddess of love then helped Paris kidnap the beautiful Helen, wife of Menelaus, king of Sparta, and the fact was the triggering cause of the Trojan war. & Nbsp;

Following the mythological story with precision, the composition opens onto an idyllic rocky landscape presenting the three goddesses in the presence of Paris . Their naked bodies characterized by a harmonious sensuality are wrapped in transparent veils and follow the ideal of neoclassical beauty. Leads to the center of the scene Aphrodite, recognizable thanks to the presence of Eros and doves; next to her were rivals Hera and Athena. On the right Paride is about to offer to the most beautiful the golden apple given to him by Hermes, represented in the background leaning against a tree, while he attends the dispute and reflects on his fatal outcome.

Conservation status: good, re-lined canvas.