Mercurius speelt Argus in slaap 1670 - 1672

"Mercurius speelt Argus in slaap" (Mercury Puts Argus to Sleep) is a 17th-century etching by Gerard de Lairesse, depicting the Greek myth of Mercury putting Argus, a giant with 100 eyes, to sleep. The scene shows Mercury, depicted as a winged youth, playing his flute to lull Argus, who sits resting against a tree. The detailed, almost sculptural representation of the figures, along with the dramatic composition and background landscape, highlights Lairesse's mastery of the Baroque style. This etching, now housed at the Rijksmuseum, reflects the fascination with mythological narratives and the artistic conventions of the period.