William Etty the artist

William Etty was born in in 1787. At his father’s request, he served several years as an apprentice to a printer in Hull. His uncle then invited him to stay in London where he was able to pursue his interest in painting at the Royal Academy School. As both a student and as a member of the academy he continued to study life classes there. He loved to paint the figure both clothed and . He eventually retired to York before he died in 1848. Statue of William Etty outside . the work

The Choice of Paris, also known as the , is a story from Greek mythology and was one of the events that led up to the Trojan War.

This classical composition depicts three female nudes in the centre of the painting. The female on the left, Aphrodite (Goddess of Love) extends her hand to take the golden apple from Paris, son of Priam (King of Troy) which would pronounce her the fairest of all Gods. In exchange for the apple, Aphrodite would give him the most beautiful woman in the world, who was at this time Helen (of Sparta). And so the Trojan War started .

Athena (far right) had promised Paris that he would be the most powerful King. Hera (centre) had promised to make him wise, even above some of the Gods. The two children near Athena’s legs are putti (cherubs), and the man behind Paris is Hermes, who delivered the apple to Paris from Zeus. The Choice of Paris, 1846 things to ask . .

Left, detail of The Choice of Paris .

Etty has painted a very English landscape in the background? Why might he have done this, rather than painting a Greek landscape?

In Greek mythology Athena is goddess of War, how do the objects depicted next to her tell us this? What are the objects? (see detail to the right)

What other animals can you spot in the painting? What might they refer to?

Can you spot any differences between the painting in Scarborough Art Gallery and a similar painting in the Walker Art Gallery (image to the right).

Both paintings were done by Etty. Why do you think he did more than one painting of the same story? The Judgement of Paris, held in The Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool