Mercury Abducting Psyche

Art Historical Context

In the enchanting engraving *Mercury Abducting Psy*, created around 1597 by Dutch artist Jan Muller after a bronze sculpture by Adriaen de, we witness a dramatic moment from classical mythology. Drawn from Apuleius's ancient tale *The Golden Ass*, the scene depicts the god Mercury swiftly carrying the mortal Psyche—elevated to immortality by Jupiter—to Mount Olympus. Muller's masterful reproduction captures de Vries's dynamic Mannerist style, with swirling drapery, elongated forms, and a sense of effortless motion that evokes the late Renaissance fascination with antique myths and humanism. Printed on laid paper using intricate engraving techniques, this work measures about 51 × 26 cm and exemplifies the era's reproductive printmaking revolution. Engravings like this allowed de Vries's luxurious bronzes, crafted for Emperor Rudolf II's Prague court, to reach a wider audience across Europe. Muller's precise linework translates the sculpture's three-dimensional energy into two dimensions, highlighting shadows and textures that draw viewers into the myth's whirlwind ascent. Housed in the National Gallery of Art through the Ruth and Jacob Kainen Memorial Acquisition Fund, this print bridges sculpture and print culture, underscoring the 16th-century Northern Renaissance's blend of Italian influences and innovative artistry. It's a testament to how engravings democratized high art, inviting us to ponder Psyche's transformative journey.

About the Artist

Jan Muller, after Adriaen de Vries

**Jan Harmensz. Muller (1571–1628)** was a Dutch engraver, draughtsman, and painter renowned for his masterful reproductive prints after leading Northern Mannerist sculptors and painters, particularly Adriaen de Vries. Born in Amsterdam and baptized on 1 July 1571, Muller came from a family deeply involved in the print trade; his father, Harmen Jansz. Muller, was a book printer, engraver, and publ...