Mercury Joining the Hands of Britain and France 1787 - 1790

This Wedgwood jasperware plaque, titled *Mercury Joining the Hands of Britain and France,* depicts the Roman god Mercury facilitating a handshake between personified representations of Britain and France. Created between 1787 and 1790, the piece reflects the optimistic hopes for peace and unity between the two nations following the American Revolution. The use of classical imagery and the blue jasperware background are hallmarks of Wedgwood's style, drawing inspiration from ancient Roman art and embodying the Neoclassical aesthetic prevalent in late 18th-century Europe.