Opdracht met Mercurius en een riviergod 1738

Johann Andreas Pfeffel created this print, "Opdracht met Mercurius en een riviergod," whose exact date is unknown, but it resides in the Rijksmuseum. The artwork presents an intriguing intersection of classical mythology and civic dedication, deeply embedded in its historical context. Rendered in detailed engraving, the piece features Mercury, the fleet-footed messenger of the gods, alongside a river deity, embodying the confluence of commerce and nature. The figures, rendered in classical style, flank an inscription dedicated to the magistrates and senate of Frankfurt, highlighting the social function of art in paying homage to civic leadership. The artwork reflects the 18th-century fascination with classical antiquity, yet it does so in service of contemporary political structures. Pfeffel uses traditional allegorical figures to laud the virtues of the city's governors, suggesting an alignment between their rule and timeless ideals. The print invites us to consider the dialogue between past and present, and the ways in which art can reinforce or question the narratives of power and authority.