Judgment of Jupiter, 1786-87 (marble)

John Deare, an English sculptor who spent his professional career in Rome, was commissioned by the Royal Academy to make this relief for an exhibition in 1787. Jupiter enthroned among the gods at the wedding of Peleus and Thetis (left) to which the goddess of discord, Eris, was not invited. She tosses a golden apple "to the fairest" so Minerva, Juno, and Venus each claim it. Jupiter asks his messenger Mercury, to pass it but the task falls to prince Paris. Here the goddesses challenge Jupiter. Paris's decision leads to the Trojan War (Mars god of war far right).