The Judgment of Paris
late 16th century
Medium
oil on canvas
Dimensions
overall: 121.3 x 165.4 cm (47 3/4 x 65 1/8 in.) framed: 158.4 x 202.3 x 8.6 cm (62 3/8 x 79 5/8 x 3 3/8 in.)
Classification
Painting
Department
CIS-R
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Samuel H. Kress Collection
Accession Number
1961.9.80
Art Historical Context
The Judgment of Paris, painted by Giovanni Sons in the late 16th century, brings to life a famous episode from Greek mythology. The scene shows the Trojan prince Paris tasked with awarding a golden apple to the fairest among the goddesses Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite. Sons’ oil on canvas captures the drama of this fateful choice, which ancient stories link to the outbreak of the Trojan War. Working in oil allowed artists of the period to achieve luminous colors, subtle modeling of figures, and rich textures that heighten the mythological narrative. At roughly 121 by 165 centimeters, the compos...