Artwork
Venus, Juno and Minerva arguing for Jupiter over the Golden Apple of Eris
Venus, Juno and Minerva arguing for Jupiter over the Golden Apple of Eris is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Abraham Janssens I. It dates from 1615 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
Abraham Janssens I, a Flemish painter active around the turn of the 17th century, completed an oil painting in 1615 that portrays the mythological dispute among Venus, Juno and Minerva over the golden apple of Eris. The work is part of the early Baroque tradition and is presently housed in the Alte Pinakothek.
Subject & Meaning
The composition captures the moment from classical mythology when the three goddesses argue before Jupiter about who deserves the golden apple, a token of beauty and favor. Their animated gestures and intense expressions convey the competitive tension inherent in the story.
Technique & Style
Janssens employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, setting the figures against a dark, shadowy backdrop while illuminating their richly colored robes. The contrast of light and shade heightens the drama and emphasizes the three women’s dynamic poses.
History & Provenance
Created during Janssens’s period as Flanders’ foremost history painter, the piece predates the rise of Peter Paul Rubens. It entered the collection of the Alte Pinakothek, where it remains on display as a representative example of early Baroque mythological painting.
Artist & collection
Artist
Abraham Janssens I, Abraham Janssen I or Abraham Janssens van Nuyssen (1575–1632) was a Flemish painter, who is known principally for his large religious and mythological works, which show the influence of Caravaggio.
