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The Dream of Paris

A work made of oil on panel.
CC0 Public Domain Designation

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  • A work made of oil on panel.

Date:

1536

Artist:

Monogrammist PG (Germany, active c. 1525–50)

About this artwork

Faced with choosing the fairest goddess among Minerva, Juno, and Venus, the Trojan prince Paris picked Venus, shown here holding a heart and the golden apple given as a prize in the contest, with her son Cupid frolicking at her feet. Paris wears the garb of a contemporary knight rather than classical dress, a choice that emphasizes the enduring relevance of his moral crossroads as well as, through contrast, the nudity of the goddesses. His sleeping pose and the painting’s inscription, PARIS / TRA(U)M (“dream of Paris,” on the slip of paper attached to the tree), indicate that he is in the midst of a dream vision, a poetic device carried over from medieval allegory and used to foreshadow future events in a narrative. Here, these include the departure of Paris and Helen by boat in the middle distance, the catalyst for the Trojan War.

Status

On View, Gallery 207

Department

Painting and Sculpture of Europe

Artist

Monogrammist PG

Title

The Dream of Paris

Place

Germany (Artist's nationality:)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

1495–1550

Medium

Oil on panel

Inscriptions

Inscribed on paper attached to central tree trunk: PARIS / TRAM; in ligature on central tree trunk: 1 O.W. / 1536 / PG (or GP)

Dimensions

49.1 × 32.8 cm (19 5/16 × 12 7/8 in.); Framed: 72.4 × 47.4 × 9.6 cm (28 1/2 × 18 5/8 × 3 3/4 in.)

Credit Line

Charles H. and Mary F. S. Worcester Collection

Reference Number

1940.935

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https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/58702/manifest.json

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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