Apple of Discord Thrown by Eris at the Marriage of Peleus and Thetis: Study for Fresco in the Hall of Henri II at Fountainebleau

Art Historical Context

In the lively chaos of this red chalk drawing, highlighted with white gouache on beige paper, Francesco Primatic captures a pivotal moment from Greek mythology Eris, goddess of discord, hurling the golden apple inscribed "To the fairest" at the wedding of Peleus andtis. This act sparks the Judgment of Paris, igniting the Trojan War. Created as a study for a fresco in the grand Hall of Henri II at Palace of Fontainebleauc. 1550s), it showcases Primaticcio's role in the opulent decorative program commissioned by King Francis I and his son Henry II. Primaticcio (1504/10–1570), a leading Mannerist artist from Bologna, blended Italian elegance with French tastes after moving to Fontainebleau in 1532. His fluid, elongated figures and dynamic compositions—evident in the swirling robes and expressive gestures here—epitomize the First School of Fontainebleau's innovative style, which fused painting, stucco, and frescoes to glorify the monarchy. The use of sanguine chalk allowed for subtle tonal modeling, while white highlights added luminous drama, making this preparatory sheet a masterful blueprint for monumental wall painting. Housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, this 12⅞ × 17¼-inch work (acquired via the Frederick C. Hewitt Fund in 1917) offers a glimpse into Renaissance patronage, where mythology served royal ambition, transforming Fontainebleau into a "new Versailles" of art and intrigue.

About the Artist

Francesco Primaticcio · 1504–1570

Primaticcio was the most influential Italian artist in France in the 16th century. Together with Rosso Fiorentino they created a style of mixing stucco decoration with mannerist paintings that became known as the Fontainebleau school. Italian painter, architect and sculptor. Comment on works: Religious; Allegory; History.