Titelpagina van Mercurius of redenaar 1742

This 1742 engraving by Coenraad de Putter, titled "Titelpagina van Mercurius of redenaar", depicts the Roman god Mercury, also known as Hermes, in a dynamic pose, standing on a cloud and scattering coins. This symbolic image is likely a title page illustration for a publication or book about rhetoric and eloquence, as Mercury was seen as the god of speech and communication in Roman mythology. The artwork is visually detailed, with intricate representations of Mercury's attributes, such as his winged sandals and caduceus, and a glimpse of a battlefield scene below, perhaps indicating the power of persuasion in times of conflict.