Mercurius en Argus 1746 - 1780

"Mercurius en Argus" is an etching by Jean Pelletier, dating from between 1746 and 1780. The etching depicts the Greek myth of Mercury and Argus Panoptes, in which Mercury, the god of messengers and commerce, is sent to kill Argus, a giant with 100 eyes, who is guarding Io, a nymph transformed into a cow by Zeus. The etching is housed in the Rijksmuseum and measures 334 mm by 395 mm. The scene is set in a wooded landscape, with a river running through the foreground. Mercury, depicted as a youthful figure, stands near the river, while Argus, a more imposing figure, sits under a tree. The etching captures the tension of the story, with Mercury's cunning and Argus's vigilance both evident.