The Judgement of Paris

Denis Lefebvre

British Museum

circa 1633-1640

The design is copied in reverse from a famous Italian engraving of circa 1510-20 by Marcantonio Raimondi after Raphael, which was copied by Marco da Ravenna. Impressions of both prints are in the British Museum. Marcantonio's print was greatly admired in Italy and had a long history of use by Italian maiolica painters in the 16th Century. This plate is particularly important as it is signed by Lefebvre, a known maker from Nevers, France and documents the way in which Italian Renaissance maiolica tradition was taken to France by Italian potters and developed in Nevers.

• Medium: tin glazed plate
• Dimensions: diameter: 45.5cm
• Art Fund Grant: £30000 ( Total: £55,000)
• ArtFunded in: 2008
• Vendor: A & J Speelman Ltd

Provenance

Sir Andrew Fountaine, before 1835; Christie's, 1884; Samuel Wilson between 1850-1891; Gaston Lefebvre before 1939; by descent to George Lefebvre; A & J Speelman Ltd, 2006. This work has been vetted by the Art Loss Register and LSAD database and the website of the Commission for Looted Art has been checked.

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