Judgment of Paris (Cranach, New York)

The "Judgment of Paris (Cranach, New York)" refers to a painting of the Judgment of Paris myth by the German Renaissance artist Lucas Cranach the Elder, specifically a version held in a New York collection. Cranach painted multiple versions of this subject, and identifying a specific one requires mentioning its location or provenance to distinguish it from other versions.

The Judgment of Paris is a scene from Greek mythology. Paris, a Trojan prince, was tasked with judging which of the three goddesses – Hera, Athena, or Aphrodite – was the fairest. Each goddess offered Paris a bribe: Hera promised him power, Athena promised him wisdom, and Aphrodite promised him the most beautiful woman in the world, Helen of Sparta. Paris chose Aphrodite, thus winning Helen and ultimately triggering the Trojan War.

Cranach’s depictions of this event typically feature elongated, elegant figures. The goddesses are often depicted nude and arranged around Paris, who is usually shown in elaborate Renaissance attire. The specific details of the painting, such as the background landscape, the attributes of the goddesses, and Paris's clothing, can vary slightly between different versions. Identifying the painting as being "in a New York collection" narrows the possibilities, allowing for easier differentiation and potential identification of the owning museum or private collection. Without further information (e.g., the name of the collection or institution), a precise identification remains challenging due to the existence of numerous Cranach versions of this popular subject.