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¶ … artwork entitled "The Judgment of Paris," by Lucas Cranach the Elder. Specifically, it will briefly describe the subject of the work, and analyze the work in regard to its expressive content. What statement do you think the artist wanted to make? What techniques did the artist use to make this statement? Discuss the composition; the treatment of figures; the use of color, light/shade; scale; the treatment of space; the handling of paint; the organization of space. "The Judgment of Paris" depicts a famous mythological scene with great attention to detail and reality. Cranach's work expresses the myths of old set in his current time of the 15th and 16th centuries. His ability to combine ancient stories with modern settings might have been incongruous, but instead, his paintings are stimulating examples that blend elements to created a coherent and charming whole.
THE JUDGMENT OF PARIS
Lucas Cranach the Elder was a German painter who lived from 1472 to 1553, and painted in the Northern Renaissance style. This painting, "The Judgment of Paris," is tempera and oil on wood, which measures 401/2 x 28 and Cranach painted it sometime around 1528. Cranach enjoyed painting in a natural style, blending his figures with the surrounding landscape, and this painting is a good example of his technique (Editors). The landscape behind the figures is quite detailed. It even includes a medieval castle on the edge of a towering cliff, along with a medieval town set off in the distance in the valley, with a ship floating serenely in the town's harbor. It is quite interesting that Cranach painted an ancient mythological...
His trusty steed waits for him, as his advisor, Mercury, discusses Paris' assignment. The three goddesses to the right of the painting are Athena, Aphrodite, and Hera. "The goddesses are winsome young German girls posing with naive awkwardness in the traditional attitudes, but without the customary attributes. The heavy necklaces, the plumed hat, and the scanty drapery serve merely to emphasize their piquant nudity" (Scherer 20). Aphrodite points to her son Cupid, who hovers overhead, ready to shoot his romantic dart into Paris at the right moment. Paris must give a golden apple to the goddess he chooses as the most attractive, and the goddesses are vying for his attention, each one with her own personality and gestures.
Hera promised the Trojan prince power and wealth if he would decide in her favour; Athena, victory and renown in war; Aphrodite, the love of the fairest woman in Greece, whom many authors named as Helen, wife of Menelaus king of Sparta. Paris was young and eager; Aphrodite was, after all, love and beauty personified. It was but natural for him to favour her (Scherer 10).
Paris indeed does choose Aphrodite, and in turn marries the beautiful Helen - the fact that she is already married does not deter him, he simply abducts her. Interestingly, this is one…
References
Editors. "Lucas Cranach the Elder." ArtCyclopedia.com. 2002. 3 April 2003. http://www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/cranach_the_elder_lucas.html
Scherer, Margaret R. The Legends of Troy in Art and Literature. 2nd ed. New York: The Phaidon Press, 1964.
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