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In the Saint Louis Art Museum, I have selected a painting “The Judgment of Paris” by Lucas Cranach the Elder. This piece was painted in 1530 in Germany. The painting’s medium represents oil and tempera on the panel. The size of the piece is 50.8 x 36.4 cm.
At first, I was attracted by the bright colors of the painting. Then the story of the piece intrigued me. I have assumed that people depicted in the piece were taking part in some dramatic event. The painting invokes curiosity and brings delight. The favorable impression about this painting is strengthened by the beauty of portrayed women. Picturesque scenery, a castle in the distance, and a white horse make feel like in a fairy-tale. And Cupid with bent bow and arrows implies a future love affair. I think the artist was trying to communicate the idea of eternal beauty and the apple of discord, the rivalry between pretty women and a man doubting which woman to choose.
The piece depicts two men and three women. The women are Roman goddesses Juno, Minerva, and Venus. The younger man in Paris. The painting illustrates an ancient antique myth about the golden apple of discord and the judgment of Paris that led up to the Trojan War. Shepherd Paris was asked to give this apple to the fairest among these women. He gave the apple to Venus, who promised him Helena, the most beautiful mortal woman. The artist was also inspired by a medieval legend, which concerns the knight Paris. According to the legend, he goes hunting, falls into the bush and sees a dream, in which the god Mercury in peacock feathers asks him to decide which among the three goddesses is the fairest.
The knight has armor on; he has taken off his helmet. The color of the armor makes it look not heavy by weight. The knight is young and handsome, and there is an expression of attentiveness and somewhat of superiority on his face. Mercury is luxuriously and gorgeously dressed; his costume with peacock feathers and a large hat proves his status as a god. He has a golden apple in his hand. This apple is very beautifully decorated. Mercury has a long white beard and a persuasive and wise look.
Juno is self-satisfied and looks with confident superiority and immense allure. Minerva at the center tries to charm the spectator. She is flirting and her bowed head excites and captivates. Venus puts her hand on the apple; she is sure in her victory due to sensual appeal and self-confidence. All three women have high foreheads; their fair hair is neatly combed back. Venus’s hair is under an elegant bonnet. The figures of the women are slender, with sloping shoulders, small round and firm breasts as if immature; the waist of each woman is narrow enough. A gently rounded belly in compliance with canons of the art of that time symbolizes procreation. The women are naked except for a transparent drape on the hips. The goddesses wear heavy gold chains on their necks. The bodies of women are paler than those of men.
The goddesses address spectaculars, they look from the painting and flirt with us.
Natural surroundings represent summer forests with green thick crowns of trees and thick bushes. The landscape is mountainous. We see a castle of the knight in the distance. The castle is situated on the ledge of the mountain, and a part of it seems to soar in the clouds. The white horse, a faithful friend of the knight, listens to the story. His big eyes look clever.
Cupid hovers in the air and directs his bow somewhere as if looking for a victim. Thus, describing this painting to somebody, who cannot see it, I would emphasize bright colors, the beauty of the women, fine scenery, and a dramatic story.
This painting impresses the organic shape of bodies. The direction of the painting is vertical because the goddesses are standing, the mountain is reaching up to the sky, but it interferes with a bit bent trunk of the tree. In my opinion, it provides an impression of a cupola above the heads of the characters. The eyes of the spectaculars are moving upwards.
The texture gives the tactile illusion that women’s bodies are porcelain, the costume of Mercury is soft, and the armor is hard. The knight’s armor is painted to simulate iron. Shading in Mercury’s peacock feathers is used to show the softness, lightness and airiness of his bright costume. We may assume that the transparent fabric of drapes on women’s hips is portrayed convincingly.
In the foreground the characters are depicted, in the middle ground we see a horse, and in the background, the mountain and the castle are painted. In fact, the foreground draws more attention and we focus on the characters of the piece.
The borders between the objects and lines are distinct, but for the lines of women’s bodies, which are smooth. Curved lines imply the softness of bodies. Each leaf is drawn in detail.
Bright colors of red and green hues are intense. Even the sky is painted in intense blue. The warm color of armor and cool color of the sky contrasts with the almost transparent porcelain bodies of women.
This painting complies with principles of harmony and proportion between the form and content of the piece. As it is an interpretation of the myth and legend, the spectacular gets an impression of a fairy-tale.
This painting has impressed me, and I think the artist aimed to convey the meaning of a man’s dream about nude beauty and deciding what woman to choose.
This interpretation of the myth is somewhat naïve. I think the artist portrayed real women sitting for this painting. He intended to depict an interesting story and impress his spectaculars with beauty and over-refinement, maybe even mannerism. It may occur due to the court life of the artist and predilection for erotic pictures. The female nude was widespread in representations at that time. Remembering that Lucas Cranach the Elder was not only a painter but also a printmaker and book illustrator, this painting looks like an illustration of the myth written in the book.
Cranach was successful in creating portraits. He portrayed his close friend Martin Luther and was a court artist to the Saxon Electors. Cranach created striking portraits of the members of the Electors family and the court. That is why he was unsurpassed in creating portraits.
He was prosperous and attended festivities, tournaments and hunting. Thus, he knew many beautiful women and brave men.
This painting is aesthetically pleasing. We can admire an inventive treatment of the mythological subject and shrewd, moving style. In a sincere manner, the artist created this piece for the delight and pleasure of the spectacular and was successful in his intentions. He conveyed the richness of life, the beauty of nature, and female fascination. The strength of women is in their weakness and charm. The unique style of Lucas Cranach the Elder and his eye for detail deserve admiring.
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