Mercury and Argus, copy in reverse after Cantarini
ca. 1630–1648 or after
Medium
Etching
Dimensions
Sheet: 10 1/4 × 11 13/16 in. (26.1 × 30 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1951
Accession Number
51.501.3261
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold *Mercury and Argus, copy in reverse after Cantarini an exquisite etching by Simone Cantarini dating to around 1630–1648 or later. This print captures a pivotal moment from classical mythology, drawn from Ovid's *amorphoses*. The swift-footed god Mercury employs his syrinx (panpipes)—a musical instrument crafted from reeds—to lull the hundred-eyed giant Argus to sleep, fulfilling Zeus's command to slay the watchful guardian and free the nymph Io. Surrounding them are men, dogs, and trees, evoking a lush, narrative landscape that heightens the drama. Cantalini, a Bolognese artist influen...
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