Peter paul rubens two major works of art

Three goddesses stand before a shepherd. Mercury, the messenger god, has brought them to the young man and alighted behind him, his cloak still flying. The caduceus by which Mercury is recognised almost slips from his hand as he gazes at the goddesses. The shepherd is Paris, son of King Priam of Troy, abandoned as a baby because it was prophesied he would bring ruin to the city. He was brought up by shepherds but the gods had other plans for him.

Eris, goddess of discord, was the only immortal not invited to an important wedding. Furious at being left out, she threw a golden apple inscribed ‘To the Fairest’ among all the goddesses at the feast. Three claimed the title – Minerva, Juno and Venus. Jupiter, chief of the gods, declared that Paris should be the judge, and it is this moment of choice that Rubens has depicted.

In the version of the story by the Roman poet Lucian that Rubens used, Paris was unable to See full list on artmajeur.com.