Mercury and Argus (after Quellinus)
British (English) School
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
circa 1674 - 1675
Materials
Oil paint and canvas
Measurements
1390 x 1370 mm
Order this imageCollection
Tredegar, Newport
NT 1553502
Caption
This scene is taken from the Roman poet Ovid’s Metamorphoses. One of Jupiter’s many loves was Io, a princess of Argos. When this was discovered by his wife, Juno, she turned Io into a white heifer, and handed the animal over to the hundred-eyed giant, Argus, to guard. Mercury was sent by Jupiter to kill the giant, which he did after first lulling him to sleep with music.
Summary
Painting. An oil painting on canvas, Mercury and Argus (after Quellinus), English School, c1675. The draped figure of Mercury, winged hat on head, sits poised to play his pipe, on the left. The nearly naked Argus, with many eyes covering his head, stands on the right holding a crook against his shoulder, a tree behind him. A white heifer cow, the transformed Io, a princess from Argos, whom Juno was jealous of because she was loved by Jupiter, can be seen in the centre middle distance. After an engraving by Hubertus Quellinus (Antwerp 1619 - Antwerp 1687), published in 1665-1668 based on a relief in the Burgerzaal in Amsterdam Town Hall by his brother, Artus I Quellinus (Antwerp 1609 - Antwerp 1688).
Provenance
Inset above fireplace; on loan with Tredegar House from Newport Museums and Galleries
Credit line
Tredegar House, The Morgan Collection (on loan to the National Trust from Newport Museums and Galleries)
Makers and roles
British (English) School, artist Artus Quellinus I (Antwerp 1609 - Antwerp 1688), sculptor Hubertus Quellinus (Antwerp 1619 - Antwerp 1687), engraver (printmaker)