Jean François De Troy, 1679–1752, *the Judgment Of Tmolos*, C. 1715–1720

Jean François de Troy, 1679–1752, *The Judgment of Tmolos*, c. 1715–1720, oil on parquet-style panel, in an old recut frame, 110 x 178 cm
Coll Didier AARON
Bibliography: Catalog of the exhibition *Les amours des Dieux* (The Loves of the Gods), Paris, Grand Palais, 1991–92, pp. 110 and 113
Christophe Leribault, p. 237, in the *catalog raisonné*
Son of the painter François de Troy, under whom he studied, admitted to the Academy in 1708 and appointed professor in 1719; he received commissions from noblemen as well as from the king and his entourage, including a door panel for the queen’s bedroom at Versailles.
In 1738, he became head of the French Academy in Rome, and in 1744, he was appointed Prince of the Academy of Saint Luke
The subject: a musical contest pitting Apollo (on the left), surrounded by nine muses, against Pan with his flute; the judge Tmolus declares Apollo the winner.
Originally, this painting was intended to serve as a decoration for a harpsichord lid, symbolizing the superiority of string instruments over wind instruments; A piece of wood was added very early on to give the painting a rectangular format, likely at the end of the 18th century