Mercury and Argus
Relief
1850-80 (made)
1850-80 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This carving is based on a silver relief dated 1610 by the Netherlandish goldsmith, Paul van Vianen. This silver version was in the collection of the Habsburg Emperor Rudolph II. The present version, in a cheaper material, but reproducing the same subject, was probably in a less wealthy Kunstkammer collection. Mercury has just killed Argus, a hundred-eyed giant, at Jupiter's command. 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.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Mercury and Argus (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Relief in boxwood |
| Brief description | Relief, boxwood, Mercury and Argus, based on a silver relief by Paul van Vianen dated 1610, French or German, 1850-1880 |
| Physical description | Argus, naked, lies asleep on the ground resting his shoulders on a mantle spread at the foot of a tree. His hunting spear beside and a dog sits beside too. In the background Mercury creeping up with his sword drawn; further back stand Io as a heifer. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Salting Bequest |
| Object history | Formerly Spitzer collection. Bequeathed to the V&A by Salting. |
| Production | This carving is based on a silver relief dated 1610 by the Netherlandish goldsmith, Paul van Vianen. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This carving is based on a silver relief dated 1610 by the Netherlandish goldsmith, Paul van Vianen. This silver version was in the collection of the Habsburg Emperor Rudolph II. The present version, in a cheaper material, but reproducing the same subject, was probably in a less wealthy Kunstkammer collection. Mercury has just killed Argus, a hundred-eyed giant, at Jupiter's command. 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. |
| Bibliographic reference | 'Salting Bequest (A. 70 to A. 1029-1910) / Murray Bequest (A. 1030 to A. 1096-1910)'. In: List of Works of Art Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum (Department of Architecture and Sculpture). London: Printed under the Authority of his Majesty's Stationery Office, by Eyre and Spottiswoode, Limited, East Harding Street, EC, p. 81 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.503-1910 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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