Mercurius wirt gegen der Herse in lieb enzündt · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: Mercurius wirt gegen der Herse in lieb enzündt
Period: 1550-1600;
Geographic: Ancient Greece; Athens
Description: This engraving illustrates the god Mercury flying above the city of Athens during a festival dedicated to Minerva. Mercury is depicted with his winged ankles, helmet, and his caduceus. While flying above the festival, Mercury noticed one of the daughters of King Cecrops, Herse. Mercury is overcome by Herse’s beauty and fixes his hair and robes to look more presentable to her. Herse is one of the many women depicted in the crowd of festival goers.
Image Creator: Virgil Solis (Engraver)
Type: Text; Woodcut Engraving
Identifier: mta:21061
Language: ger
Source Name: P. Ouidij Nasonis, deß Sinnreichen und hochverstendigen Poeten, Metamorphoses oder Verwandlung, mit schönen figuren gezieret, auch kurzen Argumenten und außlegungen erkläret, und in Teutsche Reymen gebracht, durch Johann Spreng von Augspurg [Publius Ovidius Naso, the Ingenious and Highly Understandable Poet, Metamorphoses or Transformations, Adorned with Beautiful Images, and also descriptions of Short Arguments and Explanations, Brought into German Rhymes by Johann Spreng of Augsburg]
Parent Collection: 1564 Frankfurt Spreng
Image: mta_21061_OBJ.jpg
Collection: Ovid's Metamorphoses
Subject: Gods; Beauty; Roman Mythology; Greek Mythology; Mercury; Minerva; Goddesses; King Cecrops; Herse