This painting depicts an episode from the famous ancient Greek tale of the Trojan prince Paris, as recounted by Homer in the Iliad and Euripides in Andromache and Trojan Women. The young Paris, raised as a shepherd, was tending his flocks when three goddesses appeared before him: Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite. They were arguing over who should receive the golden apple labeled “to the fairest” – the later famous “apple of discord”. Zeus had ordered Hermes to bring the goddesses to Paris to make the choice.

Each goddess tried to win Paris over. Hera promised power and wealth, Athena offered wisdom and glory as a warrior, while Aphrodite, accompanied by her mischievous son Cupid, promised the most beautiful woman (Helen of Troy) as a wife. Paris awarded the apple to Aphrodite, which became the catalyst for the Trojan War.
This version was likely created in Rubens’ workshop in the mid-1630s, with the master himself participating in its execution. Rubens often entrusted preliminary work to his assistants before personally correcting important details in the final stages. The painting shows evidence of Rubens’ hand in the masterful highlights on the eyes, accentuation of muscle plasticity, and unification of forms and colors through a holistic light-air environment.

At 48 x 63 cm on an oak panel, this work is comparable in size and quality to other workshop pieces like the version in Dresden’s Gemäldegalerie. It exemplifies the busy production of Rubens’ Antwerp studio, which fulfilled numerous commissions from across Europe with the help of talented assistants like Van Dyck and Jordaens.

Rubens, a brilliant painter and draftsman, headed the Flemish national art school in the early 17th century. He painted religious, mythological, allegorical and historical subjects, as well as hunting scenes, battles, landscapes and portraits. Called “the king of artists and artist of kings”, Rubens was also involved in diplomatic activities, traveling to Paris, Madrid and London on missions.
This “Judgement of Paris” demonstrates the high level of craftsmanship in Rubens’ workshop and is of great interest to museums and collectors as an example of collaborative production under the master’s guidance.