L13240

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Lot 33
  • 33

The Judgement of Paris, full-page miniature on a leaf from an Album Amicorum, manuscript on paper [Germany (perhaps south-east Germany or Bohemia), late sixteenth century (probably c.1560)]

Estimate
3,000 - 5,000 GBP
bidding is closed

Description

  • Paper
single leaf, approximately 140mm. by 200mm., with Paris as a finely featured man in full armour and with a bifurcated beard, seated with his horse at the base of a tree as Hermes in an orange tunic and with a winged helmet presents the three goddesses (naked apart from small pieces of chiffon-like cloth and headdresses) to him for his judgement of their beauty, as Cupid fires an arrow at him, a coat-of-arms with a rearing stag at Paris’ feet, verso with arms and helm of “Christophorus Schober”, early foliation “26”, some small folds and stains, and an area at base of verso strengthened with restoration, else good condition, painted wooden frame

Catalogue Note

From the same manuscript as the preceding lot. The myth, which lead to the Trojan War, was alluded to in the Iliad (24.25-30) and narrated in full by Ovid (Heroides) and Hyginus (Fabulae92). The scene was extremely popular in the visual arts of the Renaissance.

In order to settle a dispute about which goddess was the most beautiful, Hermes took Hera, Athena and Aphrodite to Paris, a Trojan mortal, noted for his fairness. They appeared to him on Mount Ida naked, Hera offering to make him king of Europe and Asia, Athena offering wisdom and skill in war, and Aphrodite offering him Helen of Sparta, wife of King Menelaus and the most beautiful woman in the world. He accepted Aphrodite’s offer, opening the narrative of the Greeks’ expedition to retrieve Helen from Troy.