English
DonateMembershipTickets

The Judgment of Paris: he is sitting at left with Venus, Juno and Pallas Athena, a winged victory above. In the upper section the Sun in his chariot preceeded by Castor and Pollux on horseback, at lower right two river gods and a naiad above whom Jupiter, an eagle, Ganymede, Diana and another goddess

ca. 1510–20
Not on view
A masterpiece of Renaissance printmaking, the Judgment of Paris represents a highpoint in the collaboration between the painter Raphael and the great Italian engraver Raimondi. This scene is one of a group of exceptional compositions Raphael designed specifically for Marcantonio to engrave, which, according to Giorgio Vasari, 'amazed all of Rome.' It demonstrates the meticulously ordered systems of hatching that Marcantonio developed to achieve the richest possible tonal effects, which was to influence generations of engravers. Depicted here is the incident that sparked the Trojan War: Paris being forced to decide which goddess—Juno, Minerva, or Venus—was the most beautiful. He chose Venus, seen receiving the golden apple upon promising to help him woo the most beautiful woman alive, Helen of Troy.
Recognized by Vasari as one of Marcantonio's early Roman works of 1510-1511, and this date was supported by Delaborde; Shoemaker dated it between 1517-1520; more recently, Mason and Oberhuber date it between 1515-1516.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: The Judgment of Paris: he is sitting at left with Venus, Juno and Pallas Athena, a winged victory above. In the upper section the Sun in his chariot preceeded by Castor and Pollux on horseback, at lower right two river gods and a naiad above whom Jupiter, an eagle, Ganymede, Diana and another goddess
  • Artist: Marcantonio Raimondi (Italian, Argini (?) ca. 1480–before 1534 Bologna (?))
  • Artist: After Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio or Santi) (Italian, Urbino 1483–1520 Rome)
  • Date: ca. 1510–20
  • Medium: Engraving
  • Dimensions: Sheet: 11 7/16 x 17 3/16 in. (29.1 x 43.7 cm)
  • Classification: Prints
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1919
  • Object Number: 19.74.1
  • Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
More Artwork
Dish, Ferruccio Mengaroni  Italian, Maiolica (tin-glazed earthenware), probably Italian, Pesaro
Probably Ferruccio Mengaroni
After a print by Marcantonio Raimondi
After a painting by Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio or Santi)
late 19th or early 20th century
Adam and Eve flanked by two trees, a town in the background, Marcantonio Raimondi  Italian, Engraving
Marcantonio Raimondi
After Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio or Santi)
ca. 1512–14
Lobster-Tail Burgonet, Steel, leather, gold, North Italian
North Italian
ca. 1610
Scrapbook of Drawings and Prints, Gideon Saint  British, Pen and ink, engraving and etching
Gideon Saint
ca. 1760
A naked man at left showing an axe to a woman at right, Marcantonio Raimondi  Italian, Engraving
Marcantonio Raimondi
ca. 1510–27

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.

Send feedback

Content Notice

The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world, and our online collection reflects ongoing work conducted over the course of our more than 150-year history. You may encounter objects or images that may be inappropriate for some viewers or information that may be outdated.