Mercury and Argus (Mercure et Argus) by Claude Lorrain is a significant example of 17th-century printmaking, executed in 1662. This highly detailed etching captures a scene from Ovid’s Metamorphoses, a favored source for the period's classical artists. The mythological narrative depicts the god Mercury, disguised as a shepherd, playing his pipe to lull the hundred-eyed giant Argus Panoptes to sleep, thus enabling the rescue of Io, who had been transformed into a white heifer by a jealous Juno.
While Lorrain was celebrated primarily for his grand classical landscape paintings, his etched work exhibits the same meticulous attention to atmospheric effects and idealized topography. In this print, the deep shadows and cross-hatching characteristic of the etching process help define the heavy foliage and the dramatic, sweeping vista. Lorrain places the figures within a deeply receding space, emphasizing the vastness of the natural world that dominates the human and divine drama unfolding in the foreground. This mastery of composition and light reflection demonstrates why Lorrain remains central to understanding the evolution of the classical landscape tradition during the French period 1651 to 1700.
The artist, who spent most of his professional life working in Rome, consistently infused his work with a poetic interpretation of antiquity. This piece stands as a powerful illustration of the intellectual and aesthetic sensibilities prevalent in the High Baroque era. Although a small-scale work compared to his major canvases, the etching technique allows for an intimacy that enhances the dramatic tension of the scene. This print is held in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art, where it contributes to the museum’s comprehensive holdings of historical prints and drawings, ensuring its accessibility for study and appreciation. Many works by this era's masters are frequently made available through public domain initiatives, solidifying the global legacy of Mercury and Argus (Mercure et Argus).
Important: ArtBee makes no warranties about the copyright status of this artwork. To the best of our knowledge, based on information from the source museum, we believe this work is in the public domain.
You are responsible for determining the rights status and securing any permissions needed for your use. Copyright status may vary by jurisdiction. See our License & Usage page and Terms of Service for details.