Paris presenting Helena to the Trojan court, attributed to Hans Jordaens III

17th century Flemish Old Master painting, Paris presenting Helena to Priam, Hecuba and the Trojan court, attributed to Hans III Jordaens

The theme of our painting is derived from Greek mythology and depicts a key moment in the legendary saga of the Trojan war. It shows Paris returning to his home with Helen of Sparta who then became Helen of Troy. The young pair is greeted at the front of the Trojan palace by Paris’s father King Priam, and by his mother Hecuba. Helen was believed to have been the daughter of Zeus and Leda, and was the sister of Clytemnestra, Castor and Pollux, Philonoe, Phoebe and Timandra. She is said to have been the most beautiful woman in the world. This specific depiction is a very rare one to see in Old Master paintings, in our research we found another example by Gerard Hoet which is in the collection of the Norton Simon Art Museum foundation.

Oil on wood, approx. 91.5 by 58cm, verso wood mark of Franchois de Bout I. Traces of a signature lower right painting. Another by Hans III Jordaens with the same mark is in the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Valenciennes (Noah's Ark, signed, 49.5*64.6 cm, inv. no. P.46.1.110).

With frame the dimensions are ca. 112 by 78 cms. Very good condition with vivid colors.

Provenance: Private collection Belgium