The Judgment of Paris (?), with Mercury hovering above 1650 - 1699

This anonymous 17th century drawing depicts the classical myth of The Judgment of Paris. Paris, a Trojan prince, is shown seated in the center, surrounded by the three goddesses Hera, Athena and Aphrodite, each vying for the title of most beautiful. The goddess Venus, or Aphrodite, is often depicted with a winged Cupid. The drawing is executed in pen and brown wash and is a testament to the ongoing appeal of classical mythology in art. This piece is part of the collection at the SMK - Statens Museum for Kunst.