Mercury Killing Argus 1651 - 1706

"Mercury Killing Argus," painted between 1651 and 1706 by Italian Baroque artist Girolamo Troppa, depicts the Greek myth of Mercury slaying Argus, a giant with one hundred eyes, at the behest of Jupiter. Mercury, depicted with winged sandals and a caduceus, uses a sickle to slay Argus while he slumbers. The dramatic chiaroscuro and rich color palette, characteristic of Troppa's style, create a sense of tension and suspense. The painting, now held in the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen, highlights Troppa's ability to depict both mythological and emotional narratives with masterful skill.