The Judgement of Paris
Plaquette
ca. 1490 (made)
ca. 1490 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This medallion, representing the Judgement of Paris, is made by the Master of IO. F.F., in Italy in ca. 1490.
It is perhaps from the pommel of a sword, as in examples of the Wallace Collection and at Munich.
At the wedding of Peleus and Thetis, Eris threw a golden apple into the crowd of the guests. She stated that it should be the prize 'for the fairest'. Athena, Hera and Aphrodite each claimed it. Zeus told Hermes to lead them to Mount Ida, for Paris to judge about the matter. Each goddess promised him protection and special gifts if he would choose her as receiver for the apple: Hera guaranteed to make him ruler of Asia; Athena promised him wisdom and victory in combats; Aphrodite offered him the love of the most beautiful woman in the world, Helen of Sparta. Paris gave the golden apple to Aphrodite.
The medallion was acquired by the Musuem from the Soulages Collection in 1859. Jules Soulages was a collector of French and Italian Renaissance art. After his death his collection was acquired by the Museum. Born in Toulouse in 1803, Jules Soulages practised as a lawyer in Paris and was founding member of the Société Archeologique du Midi de la France. He created an extensive collection of French and Italian Renaissance decorative art from 1825. Soulages died on 13 October 1857, aged 54. The dealer John Webb was despatched to examine and report on the collection, which was purchased between 1859 and 1865 in installments for £11,000 with the assistance of 73 subscribers.
It is perhaps from the pommel of a sword, as in examples of the Wallace Collection and at Munich.
At the wedding of Peleus and Thetis, Eris threw a golden apple into the crowd of the guests. She stated that it should be the prize 'for the fairest'. Athena, Hera and Aphrodite each claimed it. Zeus told Hermes to lead them to Mount Ida, for Paris to judge about the matter. Each goddess promised him protection and special gifts if he would choose her as receiver for the apple: Hera guaranteed to make him ruler of Asia; Athena promised him wisdom and victory in combats; Aphrodite offered him the love of the most beautiful woman in the world, Helen of Sparta. Paris gave the golden apple to Aphrodite.
The medallion was acquired by the Musuem from the Soulages Collection in 1859. Jules Soulages was a collector of French and Italian Renaissance art. After his death his collection was acquired by the Museum. Born in Toulouse in 1803, Jules Soulages practised as a lawyer in Paris and was founding member of the Société Archeologique du Midi de la France. He created an extensive collection of French and Italian Renaissance decorative art from 1825. Soulages died on 13 October 1857, aged 54. The dealer John Webb was despatched to examine and report on the collection, which was purchased between 1859 and 1865 in installments for £11,000 with the assistance of 73 subscribers.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | The Judgement of Paris (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Gilt bronze |
| Brief description | Medallion, bronze gilt, the Judgement of Paris, by the Master of IO. F.F., Italy, ca. 1490 |
| Physical description | Medallion depicts the Judgment of Paris. Paris is seated to the left under a tree, hands the apple to Venus, who stands, with Juno and Pallas, naked before him; Cupid flies above them in the air. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | 'IO. F.F.' (signed in the exergue) |
| Object history | Bought from the Soulages Collection for £2 in 1859. |
| Historical context | It is perhaps from the pommel of a sword, as in examples of the Wallace Collection and at Munich. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This medallion, representing the Judgement of Paris, is made by the Master of IO. F.F., in Italy in ca. 1490. It is perhaps from the pommel of a sword, as in examples of the Wallace Collection and at Munich. At the wedding of Peleus and Thetis, Eris threw a golden apple into the crowd of the guests. She stated that it should be the prize 'for the fairest'. Athena, Hera and Aphrodite each claimed it. Zeus told Hermes to lead them to Mount Ida, for Paris to judge about the matter. Each goddess promised him protection and special gifts if he would choose her as receiver for the apple: Hera guaranteed to make him ruler of Asia; Athena promised him wisdom and victory in combats; Aphrodite offered him the love of the most beautiful woman in the world, Helen of Sparta. Paris gave the golden apple to Aphrodite. The medallion was acquired by the Musuem from the Soulages Collection in 1859. Jules Soulages was a collector of French and Italian Renaissance art. After his death his collection was acquired by the Museum. Born in Toulouse in 1803, Jules Soulages practised as a lawyer in Paris and was founding member of the Société Archeologique du Midi de la France. He created an extensive collection of French and Italian Renaissance decorative art from 1825. Soulages died on 13 October 1857, aged 54. The dealer John Webb was despatched to examine and report on the collection, which was purchased between 1859 and 1865 in installments for £11,000 with the assistance of 73 subscribers. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 5748-1859 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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