Mercury and Battus 1565 - 1750

Robert Willemsz de Baudous created this engraving, Mercury and Battus, sometime in the 17th century. It's an illustration of a story of greed and punishment taken from Ovid's Metamorphoses. The image creates meaning through its visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations. The scene takes place in a mythic, idealized landscape, typical of Dutch Golden Age art, a period marked by its burgeoning mercantile power. Mercury, the Roman god of commerce and communication, is shown here in disguise, testing the honesty of Battus, a shepherd. Battus betrays a confidence for gold and is turned to stone as punishment. This tale of deception and divine retribution may have served as a moral lesson in a society increasingly focused on trade and wealth. The print could have functioned as a form of social commentary. To understand this image better, scholars consult classical literature, period emblem books, and economic histories. Art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.