Venus and Cupid Bind Mercury 1597 - 1637

Lucas Kilian's 17th-century engraving, "Venus and Cupid Bind Mercury," depicts a scene from Roman mythology. Venus, the goddess of love, and Cupid, her son, bind Mercury, the messenger of the gods, with chains. The engraving is a beautiful example of Kilian's mastery of line and detail, conveying the story's drama and emotion. The scene is set in a classical landscape, with a temple in the background and a lush forest in the foreground. This artwork is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.