Herse Awaiting the Arrival of Mercury 

Gerard de Lairesse painted “Herse Awaiting the Arrival of Mercury” in the Netherlands, sometime in the late 17th or early 18th century. This depiction of a scene from Ovid's “Metamorphoses” tells of the god Mercury visiting the mortal Herse. Lairesse translates the Greek myth into the visual language of the Dutch Golden Age. Herse is surrounded by cherubs and objects of immense luxury, reflecting the prosperity of the Netherlands at the time. Notice the architectural setting; the columns, arches, and busts are meant to evoke the grandeur of classical antiquity. The painting seeks to create an aura of sophistication and erudition in the viewer. As art historians, we try to unravel the social and historical contexts that gave rise to such images, looking at patronage, class, and cultural values to build up a more complete picture.