Oordeel van Paris en de roof van Helena van Troje 1639

"Oordeel van Paris en de roof van Helena van Troje" (Judgment of Paris and the Abduction of Helen of Troy) is an etching by Dutch artist Jerôme David, created in 1639. The artwork depicts the scene from Greek mythology where Paris, the Trojan prince, chooses Aphrodite as the most beautiful goddess, leading to the abduction of Helen, the wife of Menelaus, and ultimately triggering the Trojan War. This etching, now in the Rijksmuseum, showcases David's mastery of detail and his ability to capture the drama and emotion of the story. The composition is dynamic, with the figures of Paris, Helen, and the goddesses arranged in a powerful triangle. The detail of the ships in the background adds to the sense of movement and the epic scale of the event.