Mercury and Argus
1642/48
Medium
Etching on cream laid paper
Dimensions
25.7 × 29.9 cm (10 1/8 × 11 13/16 in.)
Classification
etching
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
40774
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Mercury and Argus shows Mercury, disguised as a shepherd, lulling the giant Argus to sleep in order to steal Io, the comely cow in the background of the image, for Jupiter. One of Jupiter’s many mortal lovers, Io was turned into a cow and put under the guardianship of Argus. But Jupiter tasks Mercury with killing Argus and freeing Io—the scene shown here. While Cantarini depicted Argus with two eyes, the giant was said to have a hundred. After Argus is killed by Mercury, his eyes decorate the pe...
About the Artist
Simone Cantarini · 1612–1648
He was one of the most eminent pupils of Guido Reni and one of the most gifted engravers in the tradition of the Carracci. He had a strong personality and developed a highly original style, which united aspects of Bolognese classicism with a bold naturalism. Comment on works: Religious