Mercury and Argus 1659

diegovelazquez

Museo del Prado, Madrid, Spain

charcoal drawing

possibly oil pastel

oil painting

roman-mythology

neo expressionist

acrylic on canvas

portrait head and shoulder

underpainting

mythology

human

painting painterly

animal drawing portrait

portrait drawing

"Mercury and Argus" is a painting by Diego Velázquez depicting the Greek myth of Mercury, the messenger god, slaying Argus Panoptes, a giant with 100 eyes who was tasked with guarding the nymph Io. Completed in 1659, the painting is a powerful example of Velázquez's mastery of light, shadow, and dramatic composition. The painting depicts the moment Mercury, disguised as a shepherd, lulls Argus to sleep with music and then uses his caduceus to slay him. The painting is a striking depiction of the story, capturing the tension and drama of the moment. "Mercury and Argus" is housed in the Museo del Prado in Madrid, Spain.