Mercury Turning Battus to Stone 1620 - 1690

This etching, *Mercury Turning Battus to Stone*, depicts a scene from Ovid's *Metamorphoses* where the god Mercury turns Battus into a stone for betraying the goddess Cybele. The scene is set in a picturesque landscape, typical of the Dutch Golden Age, with large trees, rolling hills, and a winding stream, all rendered with meticulous detail by the artist Herman van Swanevelt. This artwork is characteristic of his style, known for its classical influence and elegant portrayal of nature, reflecting the influence of Claude Lorrain. The etching, created between 1620 and 1690, is now part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.