Mercury Arresting Pegasus 1670

Curator: Here we have Melchior Küsel's engraving, "Mercury Arresting Pegasus," currently held in the Harvard Art Museums. It's rendered in fine lines, creating a dynamic scene. Editor: My first impression is one of tension. Pegasus seems wild, almost frightened, while Mercury is all controlled power. Curator: Precisely. The image plays with the idea of containing creative inspiration—Pegasus, of course, being linked to the Muses. Mercury, a messenger of the gods, subdues him. Editor: The caduceus further emphasizes his role as mediator. It’s fascinating how Küsel visualizes this struggle through classical iconography. Curator: The "Cum Privilegio S. C. M." suggests this was an officially sanctioned image, perhaps for dissemination of imperial power through classical allegories. The politics of imagery were always at play. Editor: It makes you wonder about the intended audience, and what message this image sought to convey about the relationship between power and artistic expression. Curator: Indeed, a small image provoking large questions. Editor: Symbols offer rich veins into the past.