Mercury Killing Argus
1652
Talk about a bad day for a giant! In this dramatic scene, the messenger god Mercury stands poised with a curved sword raised high, ready to strike down the sleeping Argus. The cow watching nervously on the left isn't just livestock—it's Io, a nymph transformed into a heifer by Zeus to hide his affair from his jealous wife Hera. Argus was the ultimate security guard with a hundred eyes, but Mercury charmed him to sleep first. The text at the bottom dates the design to 1652 by Jacob Jordaens, showcasing the muscular intensity and high drama typical of the Baroque era.
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- engraving
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- paper
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