Mercury and Argus 1638

"Mercury and Argus" is an oil on canvas painting by Peter Paul Rubens from 1638. The painting, housed in the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, depicts the Greek myth of Mercury lulling the giant Argus, who was tasked with guarding Io, into a sleep. Mercury, the Roman messenger god, is shown playing a pipe while Argus, with his hundred eyes, sleeps against a tree, and a white cow, the transformed Io, is next to him. Rubens’ dynamic composition and dramatic use of light and shadow contribute to the captivating narrative of this celebrated work.