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According to the myth, Prince Paris was asked by Mercury to choose which of the three goddesses, Juno, Minerva or Venus, was the most beautiful. Paris is here seen lying on the left, having just been awakened by Mercury after a dream, and the three goddesses are standing naked before him. Each of them has individually promised him a gift if the choice falls on her. Juno has promised him power and Minerva success as a warrior, while Venus promised him the most beautiful woman on earth. The choice has not yet been made in the picture, but we know from the myth that Paris chose Venus and thus physical love. This had terrible consequences. Among the things resulting from it was the Trojan War. So Prince Paris made the wrong choice.One of the goddesses is staring at the viewer. She is forcing him to make the choice that has not yet been made in the picture and which therefore remains open. The viewer, who of course knows the outcome of the story, is thus encouraged to make a different choice from the wrong one made by Paris. The goddess’ gaze thus emphasises the situation of choice.

Details

  • Title: The Judgement of Paris
  • Creator: Lucas Cranach the Elder
  • Creator Lifespan: About 1472 Kronach - 1553 Weimar
  • Creator Nationality: German
  • Creator Gender: Male
  • Creator Death Place: Weimar
  • Creator Birth Place: Kronach
  • Date Created: 1527
  • Værktekst: Ifølge myten blev prins Paris bedt af Merkur om at vælge, hvilken af de tre gudinder, Juno, Minerva eller Venus, der var den skønneste. Paris ligger til venstre, netop vækket af Merkur efter en drøm, og de tre gudinder står nøgne foran ham. Hver enkelt har de lovet ham en gave, hvis valget falder på hende. Juno har lovet ham magt, Minerva succes som feltherre, mens Venus lovede ham den skønneste kvinde på jorden. Valget er endnu ikke foretaget på billedet, men vi ved fra myten, at Paris valgte Venus og dermed den fysiske kærlighed. Det havde frygtelige konsekvenser. Det medførte bl.a. hele Den Trojanske Krig. Prins Paris valgte altså forkert.Den ene gudinde ser ud på betragteren. Hun aftvinger denne dét valg, der på billedet endnu ikke er truffet og derfor endnu står åbent. Betragteren, der jo kender historiens udfald, tilskyndes derved til at foretage et andet valg end Paris’ forkerte. Gudindens blik pointerer således valgsituationen.
  • Teknik: Olie på træ
  • Proveniens: Erhvervet 1744
  • Provenance: Acquired 1744
  • Physical Dimensions: w38 x h50.5 cm (Without frame)
  • Dansk link: http://www.smk.dk/index.php?id=2902
  • Dansk Titel: Paris' dom
  • Type: Painting
  • Rights: Statens Museum for Kunst, http://www.smk.dk/en/copyright/creative-commons/
  • Medium: Oil on panel

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