Mercurius 1693

Pieter Sluyter created this print of Mercurius sometime between 1690 and 1733, using etching techniques. Mercurius, or Mercury as he is also known, was the Roman god of trade, eloquence, messages, communication, travelers, boundaries, luck, trickery and thieves. The Dutch Republic, where Sluyter was working, was a major center of trade during the 17th and 18th centuries, so it’s no surprise that Mercurius was a popular subject for artists and their patrons. But more than that, the image of Mercurius as a divine messenger may have served to legitimize the swift spread of information and the bustling circulation of goods that characterized Dutch society. To understand this image better, it’s worth looking into the economic history of the Dutch Republic, as well as the visual culture that helped to shape its identity. By situating art within its social and institutional context, we can gain a richer understanding of its meaning and significance.