Who painted The Judgement of Paris?

The Judgement of Paris was painted by Jacopo Guarana in 1764.

Where can I see The Judgement of Paris?

The Judgement of Paris is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is The Judgement of Paris?

The Judgement of Paris is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

The Judgement of Paris

Jacopo Guarana , 1764

The Judgement of Paris is an ink print by the Baroque artist Jacopo Guarana. It dates from 1764 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

The composition arranges five figures within a verdant landscape, anchored by a central female figure whose outstretched arms draw the eye.

Jacopo Guarana’s 1764 etching, titled The Judgement of Paris, presents a mythological tableau rendered on laid paper. The composition arranges five figures within a verdant landscape, anchored by a central female figure whose outstretched arms draw the eye. A seated man and a kneeling attendant occupy the right foreground, while two additional women flank the central figure, all set against distant trees, hills, and an architectural element.

Subject & Meaning

The scene illustrates the moment from Greek legend when Paris must choose the most beautiful goddess, a decision that precipitates the Trojan War. The central woman, likely the goddess Aphrodite, is emphasized by her gesture, while the surrounding figures embody the competing deities and the mortal observer, creating a narrative tension that underscores the gravity of the choice.

Technique & Style

Guarana employs fine etching lines to model forms, using cross‑hatching and varied tonal washes to suggest depth and atmospheric perspective. The texture of foliage and distant architecture is achieved through delicate stippling, while the figures’ musculature and drapery are rendered with precise incisions, producing a clear contrast between illuminated surfaces and shadowed planes.

History & Provenance

Created in the mid‑eighteenth century, the print reflects Guarana’s engagement with classical themes popular among Venetian academies. Though specific ownership records are sparse, the work has been catalogued in several European print collections, indicating its circulation among connoisseurs of mythological subjects during the period following its production.