Mercurius met wereldkaarten 1649

"Mercurius met wereldkaarten" is an engraving by Claude Mellan depicting the Roman god Mercury. The god stands before a column, holding a snake and a globe of the world. The inscription "Facit gemino commercia mundo" (He makes trade with the world) is visible above Mercury, referencing the god's role as a patron of commerce. The artwork, created in 1649, is part of the Rijksmuseum collection in Amsterdam and showcases Mellan's precise and detailed style. The engraving was created for a book by the Jesuit scholar Filippo Briet, "Parallela Geographiae Veteris et Novae," focusing on the history of geography. The engraving also features a map of the world, further highlighting the importance of geographical exploration and the role of Mercury in trade.