Wearing a winged cap and yellowish gold tunic, he plays a pipe. Jordaens' first rendering of the subject, at Lyons, in which Mercury also reaches for his sword in a pose similar to that in the present lot, is of the early 1620s. In the present work, Mercury is grasping his sword as Argus sits sleeping, and Io, the white heifer, looks on above. It is on display at the Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon (oil on canvas 202 x 241 cm). Public Domain. Their bodies form an upside down triangle and form, along with the bodies of the characters, a chiasmus (heifer, human, human, heifer) that appeals to the eye. Style: Baroque. This precision reinforces the baroque style of the artwork. The colours of the heifers are in opposition too; while Io is white, the colour of purity, there is also a black one, a symbol of fatality and death, that covers a corner of the painting, showing a point of no return. Mercury lulled Argus to sleep by playing the flute, then killed him and released the cow. Jupiter commands his son Mercury (Hermes) to set Io free by lulling Argus to sleep with an enchanted flute. Dent & Co., 1908 420 p. ND673.J8 R7, This page was last edited on 31 March 2020, at 22:19. Upon realizing this, Juno places the heifer under the watch of the giant Argus. The colours are dark; there are brown and dark green tones for the bushes at the left bottom corner, on the right hand side and in the middle; dark blue and shades of grey for the sky, but also very light colours, typical of the baroque style with the chiaroscuro technique, that enlightens the characters and the action and highlights their anatomy. Jupiter transforms his paramour, Io, into a white heifer to protect her from his jealous wife, Juno. The official position taken by the Wikimedia Foundation is that "faithful reproductions of two-dimensional public domain works of art are public domain".This photographic reproduction is therefore also considered to be in the public domain in the United States. While the landscape is a foreshadow, the scene is not violent because the murder is on the verge of happening. This work forms part of a collection of 57 paintings donated by the Trustees of Sir Denis Mahon s Charitable Trust through the Art Fund to 6 museums in the UK. Mercury and Argus, 1635 by Peter Paul Rubens. 70 to A. Io, the beautiful daughter of the river god Inachus, fell prey to the passion of Jupiter, who - in order to hide her from his jealous wife - turned the … The source of the subject is Ovid's Metamorphoses. Possibly Jaques de Roore (sale, The Hague, 4 September 1747, no. Two artists collaborated to paint this composition. This image is in the public domain. In 1620, he painted Mercury and Argus and started collaborating with Van Dyck and Rubens. It's qualities show us someone at the height of their talents, and it is now a significant part of the collection of the Prado Museum in Madrid, Spain. This artist was not chiefly interested in the myth, but he or she needed an excuse for painting a landscape. The heifers are located on the superior part of the painting. Argus, the shepherd with a hundred eyes and immense strength, was entrusted by Juno to … Mercury and Argus Pier Francesco Mola Art Funded 2012_Mahon Dimensions 31.2 x 40.8 cm Bequeathed by Sir Denis Mahon CH CBE FBA FSA through The Art Fund. The latter is the one-hundred-eyed Argos, whom Juno appointed to watch over Io, the beautiful nymph she had turned into a cow in order to protect her from the amorous advances of he husband, Jupiter. Please fill out our Online Reproduction Request Form. The 16th century Flemish painter and poet Karel van Mander gave an example of interpretation of Ovid's myth; more than a conflict between two generations, there is a lesson of morality. Upon realizing this, Juno places the heifer under the watch of the giant Argus. 79). Message {{ Honeypot below, not using any significant name to prevent smarter bots from noticing it as a honeypot }} From National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., Claude Lorrain, Mercury and Argus (Mercure et Argus) (1662), Etching The red colour announces Argus' death because it is the colour of blood, but it also is an echo to Caravaggio who painted his Saint Jerome (Valletta) in red, the colour of wisdom. To end their affair, Hera puts Io under the guard of the giant Argus Panoptes, who has 100 eyes. In addition to the Mercury News and East Bay Times, the Bay Area News Group includes the Marin Independent Journal, Walnut Creek Journal, Alameda Journal, Los Gatos Weekly Times, The Argus… As a prelude to the scene unfolding in the painting above, Argus had been tasked by Hera with watching over a special cow. Indeed, both artists had worked in Peter Paul Rubens’ studio, one of the most productive of the seventeenth century. The painting illustrates an episode from Ovid’s Metamorphoses: Mercury prepares to send Argus to sleep, with the alluring melodies of his flute, and then to kill him at Jove’s command. We are preparing for a phased reopening beginning in mid-May. Catalogue raisonné: Hollstein L.295.127. From J. Paul Getty Museum, J. M. W. Turner, Mercury and Argus (before 1836), Oil on canvas, 151.8 × 111.8 cm Open Access. In Argos lived Inachus' most famous daughter Io, a beautiful girl who became a priestess of Hera and attracted the amorous attention of Zeus himself. Bibliographic Reference 'Salting Bequest (A. Argus' dog is also present, but seems sheepish and impassive. Anthonie Waterloo (Dutch, 1609/10-1690) Netherlands, 17th century. There is no supernatural aspect and the painting is clearly influenced by realism, as if the scene could happen in real life, except the fact that the characters are only dressed with togas. LEARN MORE. Learn how and when to remove this template message, http://www.nortonsimon.org/collections/browse_title.php?id=F.1976.01.P, Metamorphoses (tr. After finding him, Mercury puts Argus to sleep by playing him some music on the flute. Mercury and Argus is a painting by Jacob Jordaens, painted around the year 1620. Jacob Jordaens (also known as Jacques Jordaens) was born in Anvers, United Provinces of the Netherlands, in 1593. Mercury then decapitates Argus and places his eyes in the tail of the peacock. 1030 to A. Approved requests for the reproduction of an image will receive a contract detailing all fees and conditions of use of the image. 1096-1910)'. Jacob Jordaens (also known as Jacques Jordaens) was born in Anvers, United Provinces of the Netherlands, in 1593. Mercury and Argus is a painting by Jacob Jordaens, painted around the year 1620. Mercury's muscles are prominent. The painting refers to the myth of Mercury, Argus (Argos) and Io, found in The Metamorphoses written by Ovid (I, 583 ; IX, 687): Jupiter (Zeus) falls in love with Io, a priestess of Hera, his wife, who quickly discovers the affair. These Juno takes, that they no more may fail, Mercury and Argus. not on view. Mrs. Talbot, Dublin by 1815, by inheritance to; Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded. It is on display at the Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon (oil on canvas 202 x 241 cm). The compelling … The love affairs of gods never bode well for mortals; there were times when they caused nothing but suffering even for some of the nymphs. Mercury and Argus . Frame appears to be original to the painting - 19th Century frame in very good condition considering its age (please see photos). The artist set the scene in a landscape with classical ruins. The light of the artwork is similar to the light of a thunderstorm; the sky is dark and the light is raw. Mercury and Argus The subject of Mercury and Argus is drawn from Ovid’s Metamorphoses, which describes how Jupiter transformed his lover, Io into a white heifer to protect her from the wrath of his jealous wife, Juno.Aware of Jupiter’s deception however, Juno orders the hundred-eyed Argus … Mr. and Mrs. Lewis B. Williams Collection 1944.48 . Mercury and Argus Paolo Gerolamo Piola (Genoa 1666 – 1724) 1700 circa; ... the musculature of the sleeping Argus). Mercury's movement with his knife, from the bottom to the top in a circular way, is highlighting the impression of movement and reinforces the suggested dramatic tension. Another work on the same theme and with the same title, painted on canvas by Rubens between 1636 and 1638, is in the … Order Oil Painting. It was created between 1635 and 1638 and is now in the possession of the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Dresden, Germany. Claude Lorrain Mercury and Argus. Fully aware of her strategy, the latter sent Mercury to bypass Argos and steal her. Mercury is dressed in blue and white while Argus is dressed in red, and these two colours are opposed. Please fill out the form below and we will get in touch to confirm the details of your enquiry. Jupiter’s wife Juno gives Argus, who has a hundred eyes, the task of watching over the cow. Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Dresden, Germany. The background is in fact a foreshadow of the murder; the colours of the sky and the bushes are dark, and three of the heifers are looking at the spectator. Mercury and Argus, a story of love and deceit, derives from Ovid’s Metamorphoses. Media: oil, canvas. The underlying story is the following (source: Souli, 1995, p. 40). Such collaborations were common in workshops that created paintings for a thriving art market. Mercury and Argus 1635-38 Oil on panel, 63 x 87,5 cm Gemäldegalerie, Dresden: The source of the subject is Ovid's Metamorphoses. In fact, the dog is looking at the hidden knife under Mercury's leg. Email. The leaves and the heifers also give a gloomy impression because of their very dark colours. Images may be protected by copyright and other intellectual property rights. Jupiter transforms himself into a bull and transforms Io into a beautiful, white heifer in order to hide from Hera's wrath. Sitting on the ground next to him is a man (Argus) who is clad in a short red tunic; he leans his right arm on a rock. Location. REF: Superb oil on canvas copy of Peter Rubens "Mercury and Argus". One of Jupiter’s many mortal lovers, Io was turned into a cow and put under the guardianship of Argus. Mercury and Argus 1662 Claude Lorrain (Claude Gellée) French. Rubens depicts Mercury without his traditional attributes. As the story goes, the clash of Mercury and Argus was a proxy war between the ever-feuding divine couple, Zeus (or Jupiter) and Hera (or Juno). Mercury and Argus. ), Book I, The Eyes of Argus transform'd into a Peacock's Train, Mercure et Argus sur le site du Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon, Erichthonius Discovered by the Daughters of Cecrops, Triumph of Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mercury_and_Argus_(Jordaens)&oldid=948411905, Paintings of the Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon, Articles needing additional references from November 2019, All articles needing additional references, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Rooses, Max: Jacob Jordaens, London: J.M. Jupiter sent Mercury, the gods´ messenger, to kill Argos and recover the nymph. Additional permission may be required. File:Unknown maker, Flemish, 16th century - Landscape with Mercury and Argus - 71.PB.65 - J. Paul Getty Museum.jpg Location. The expansive vista belongs to an earlier tradition that evokes the immenseness of the world through panoramic views, offering the suggestion of boundless space. There is a true study of anatomy, shown in Argus' shrivelled up skin. Read More. Mercury and Argus, a story of love and deceit, derives from Ovid’s Metamorphoses. It was restored in 1991 and was lent to the Petit Palais during the exhibition "Jordaens (1593-1678), la gloire d'Anvers" from September 19, 2013 to January 19, 2014.[1]. Image reproduction permission may be granted for scholarly or arts related commercial use. Argus is asleep, his hand on his stick. Garth, Dryden, et al. The Norton Simon Museum is temporarily closed. This service only applies to select artworks in the Gallery's collection. And spreads them in her peacock's gaudy tail."[2]. The contrasts and the movements are highlighted by a low angle shot point of view of the scene. It can also be interpreted as the colour of lust, as if Argus, charmed, was in the same time perverted by Mercury. There is a real precision in the traits of the human characters, precision that can be found once again in paintings of Caravaggio. Mercury then carried his sword and flute and went on a mission to find Argus. Mercury and Argus was one of Velazquez's last few paintings, arriving as it did just a year before the artist's death. He was brought up in a rich family and received a good education, proven by his biblical and mythological knowledge. He then strikes the sleeping Argus to death with the sword, and returns the heifer to Zeus. Blue refers to Mercury's divinity and white his feigned innocent. The Norton Simon Foundation. 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. The qualities described above suggest that the sheet is a preparatory sketch, but it may also be an autonomous study executed to help the artist experiment with lighting effects in the composition. Argus had been guarding Io, a princess whom Jupiter loved, but whom Juno had transformed into a heifer; She can be seen in the background. The love affairs of gods never bode well for mortals; there were times when they caused nothing but suffering even for some of the nymphs. Just behind Mercury there rises a majestic tree. Jupiter transforms his paramour, Io, into a white heifer to protect her from his jealous wife, Juno. The Mayor of Lyon Jean-François Termes acquired the artwork in 1843 for the sum of 2,000 francs (US$1,990). Jordaens depicts the tense moment when Mercury, sent by Jupiter to kill Argus, slyly approaches the watchman after lulling him to sleep with his pipe; Io stands placidly by at the right. Mercury, the standing figure, lulls the seated Argus to sleep with his flute, thus leaving the beautiful white cow--a transformation of the nymph Io--unguarded. Mercury and Argus is a representation of the myth, but also renews it with a very baroque style influenced by realism that re-establishes the myth in reality and popularises it. Mercury, disguised as a barefooted young shepherd with a straw hat, is gazing at Argus (who, unlike the myth, has only two eyes) and is about to strike a lethal blow. Brought to Ireland from Antwerp by Major Whitlock. Rose Talbot, Malahide Castle, outside Dublin, (sale, Christie's, London, 2 April 1976, lot 62 to; All image requests, regardless of their intended purpose, should be submitted via email. )/ Mercury & Argus (L.) Hermes is sometimes called Argeëphontes or Argofonias, i.e.the murderer of Argus. Genre: mythological painting. It is on display at the Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon (oil on canvas 202 x 241 cm). Upon receipt of both the signed contract and full payment, the Office of Rights and Reproductions will provide the image. In the right foreground, a man (Mercury) sits on a large rock. Date: c. 1659. Mercury dons a soft red tunic, balanced by a winged cap on top of his head, and sits on a gold cape that cascades down to … Mercury Killing Argus, Hendrik Goltzius (after) (Holland, Mülbracht, 1558-1617) Hendrik Goltzius (Netherlands, Mülbracht [now Bracht-am-Niederrhein], 1558 … Sweet notes issue from Mercury’s flute, bringing his companion, Argus, to the half-conscious state of stupor that precedes a nice, long nap. Click Image to view detail. According to Ovid (Metamorphosis, book V), in order to avoid her husband Jupiter´s infidelities, the goddess, Juno, converted the nymph, Io, into a lamb and called on Argos, the shepherd, to look after her. Mercury, Argus, and Io, Carel Fabritius (Netherlands, Middenbeemster, circa 1622-1654), Holland, circa 1645-1647, Paintings, Oil on canvas. The Hon. Are clos'd at once, in one perpetual night. The framing is narrowly focused on the figures; the canvas is cut on the right-hand side and there is little room left for scenery. Jordaens painted the figures, with Jan Wildens painting the landscape. Jordaens depicts the tense moment when Mercury, sent by Jupiter to kill Argus, slyly approaches the watchman after lulling him to sleep with his pipe; Io … A complimentary copy of the published material must be provided to the Norton Simon Museum. 1029-1910) / Murray Bequest (A. The painting illustrates an episode from Ovid ’s Metamorphoses: Mercury prepares to send Argus to sleep, with the alluring melodies of his flute, and then to kill him at Jove’s command. This is a fine copy of the masterwork by Rubens. (Alexander Mangin (1732-1802) or William Ashford (1746-1824) et al sale, James Vallance, Dublin, 9 May 1803, lot 116); Argus is charmed by Mercury who represents lust and desire, and finally dies from his hand. But Jupiter tasks Mercury with killing Argus and freeing Io—the scene shown here. Diego Velazquez. Location: Museo del Prado, Madrid, Spain. The myth of Hermes & Argus (Gr. Mercury has just killed Argus, a hundred-eyed giant, at Jupiter's command. Date unknown. And all his hundred eyes, with all their light, Jordaens likes to give an echo to morals in his paintings, even in those with prosaic subject-matters. Download and Share. The sky confirms this feeling of a calm before the storm and sets a dynamic characteristic to the artwork along with curves that set an impression of movement. Mercury, disguised as a shepherd, is invited by Argus to his camp. Etching. South and Southeast Asian Paintings and Sculpture, Impressions: Stories Behind the Collection. Name. Mercury and Arguys is an oil on panel paintininings by the Flemish artist Peter Paul Rubens. Strikes the sleeping Argus to sleep with an enchanted flute who has 100.... 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