The Judgment of Paris. Illustration to the Iliad 1795

John Flaxman’s 1795 illustration, “The Judgment of Paris”, is a line drawing depicting the Greek myth of the Trojan War’s origin. Paris, a Trojan prince, is shown offering an apple to Aphrodite, the goddess of love, while Hera and Athena stand in wait. The drawing is part of a series illustrating Homer’s Iliad and is executed in the Neoclassical style favored by Flaxman. This style emphasizes clear lines, simple forms, and a focus on classical Greek and Roman mythology and aesthetics.