Judgment of Paris, after Raphael 1520 - 1600

Editor: So this is "Judgment of Paris, after Raphael," created sometime between 1520 and 1600. It's a pencil drawing, and a print, now at the Met. There's a delicate quality to the line work, which gives it an ethereal feel. How do you read the relationships between the figures? Curator: Well, aren't they just brimming with secrets, these sketched gods and goddesses? Raphael, or his follower rather, whispers to us across centuries of beauty standards and artistic conventions. Look closely – can you see the echoes of classical sculpture, filtered through a Renaissance lens? This drawing isn't just a copy; it's a conversation. One artist interpreting another, centuries apart, each adding their own inflection to the story. Do you sense the tension in the way Paris offers the apple? Editor: Absolutely, he seems almost reluctant! Like he knows he's about to cause trouble. Curator: Exactly! The whole scene has a mischievous energy, doesn't it? The artist’s hand feels both precise and free, confident and searching. I get a sense of playful exploration—a kind of creative ‘what if’. And the dog sitting down stage left? A symbol of fidelity, perhaps, amidst all this divine drama. Isn’t it wonderful? Editor: It is! It makes you think about how artists learn from each other, borrowing ideas, responding, riffing. Curator: Precisely! It's a continuous dialogue that crosses time. This little sketch has definitely taught me to read artworks more fluidly. Editor: I completely agree! It encourages us to make unexpected connections with works in museums and our world.