Mercury and Battus
In this dramatic red chalk sketch, we witness a mythological case of 'snitches get turned to stone.' The figure on the left is the god Mercury, identifiable by his winged helmet, confronting the shepherd Battus who is recoiling in terror. According to Ovid, Battus promised to keep Mercury's cattle theft a secret but then betrayed the god for a reward. Filippo Lauri captures the tense moment of punishment with energetic, scratchy lines typical of the Baroque style, showing the divine trickster casting a spell on the greedy shepherd. It’s a fantastic example of how artists used quick drawings to work out high-drama storytelling.
- Technique
- Red chalk
- Material
- Paper
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