The Judgement of Paris (Rubens)

The Judgement of Paris

Artist	Peter Paul Rubens
Year	c. 1636
Dimensions	144.8 cm × 193.7 cm (57.0 in × 76.3 in)
Location	National Gallery, London

The Judgement of Paris

Artist	Peter Paul Rubens
Year	1639
Dimensions	199 cm × 379 cm (78 in × 149 in)
Location	Museu del Prado, Madrid

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. The large versions of 1636 and 1638 are among the best known. These both show Rubens' version of idealised feminine beauty, with the goddesses Venus, Minerva and Juno on one side and Paris accompanied by Mercury on the other (the 1636 version has a putto at the far left and Alecto above the goddesses, whilst the 1638 version adds a putto between Minerva and Venus).

1636 version

This version follows the story as narrated in Lucian's 'Judgement of the Goddesses'. It shows the award of the golden apple, though alterations show Rubens first painted an earlier point in the story, when the goddesses are ordered to undress by Mercury. It was bought for the National Gallery in London in 1844.

1638 version

Painted in 1638 or 1639, this version is now in the Prado and was completed shortly before his death while he was ill with gout. It was commissioned by Philip IV of Spain's brother Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand of Austria and on Ferdinand's death moved to the Spanish royal collection. In 1788 Charles III of Spain decided it was immodest and ordered it to be burned, but he died before that order could be carried out.

Other versions

• 

  1597-1600, National Gallery

• 

  c. 1606, oil on panel, Prado

• 

  oil sketch on copper, 1606, Academy of Fine Arts, Vienna

• 

  1636, Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Dresden, probably earlier than the similar London painting