Title Page and Alcove with Mercury Approaching Herseâs Bed
1658â1703
Medium
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-341-31
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Jean Le Pautre (1618–1682), a prominent French engraver, designer, and architect, created this intricate print during the lavish Baroque era of Louis XIV's reign. Titled *Title Page and Alcove with Mercury Approaching Herse’s*, it dates between 1658 and1703 and captures a mythological moment from Ovid's *Metamorph*. The god Mercury stealthily approaches the bed of the beautiful Herse, blending classical antiquity with the opulent decorative style of 17th-century France. Le Pautre, known for his influential ornamental prints, often disseminated architectural and furniture designs through such w...