Mercury 1611

Hendrick Goltzius painted this impressive oil on canvas, titled "Mercury," sometime before his death in 1617. The use of oil paint itself is significant. By Goltzius's time, oil had become the dominant medium for ambitious painters, prized for its capacity to mimic textures and create the illusion of three dimensions. Take a moment to consider the surface of the painting. Notice the way the light reflects off Mercury's skin, seemingly alive. It took years of apprenticeship to master these skills. Laborious grinding of pigments, mixing of oils, layering of glazes – all this invisible work underpins the image. We can easily overlook the sheer effort involved, but it is crucial for understanding its value. The painting declares that the artist is not just a craftsman, but a genius, capable of transforming base materials into something transcendent. This elevation of the artist's status was very much a product of its time, mirroring shifts in social and economic power. This painting transcends traditional boundaries, showing how an artist's social status is a product of his time.