Allegorie met vijf putti met de attributen van Mercurius

This drawing, whose maker is now unknown, shows five cherubic figures in pen and grey wash, with the attributes of Mercury, god of commerce and communication. The way the artist has built up the forms is interesting. See how the light and shade have been applied with loose strokes, to suggest a three-dimensional composition. The artist’s skill is clear from the texture and weight that is achieved with such simple means. The drawing’s relatively small size would have made it quick to produce, perhaps one of many such studies by an artist in a busy workshop. Consider the relationship between image and purpose: in its day, this drawing would have been a visual shorthand, quickly conveying the idea of commercial success. Drawings like this were the lifeblood of early capitalism, prototypes for prints or sculpture that would carry the message further afield. So even in something as apparently innocent as this, we can see the wheels of industry turning.