Luigi Cunego

Mercurio (Statue from Villa Montalto)

Mercurio (Statue from Villa Montalto) by Luigi Cunego

Artwork Detail

Mercury was one of the twelve gods of Olympus. Often he is depicted with the winged sandals. However, the sculpture from which this print is taken shows him with his winged caduceus or magic wand around which two snakes are intertwined, which had the power to induce sleep. The son and messenger of Jupiter (Greek: Zeus), Mercury was charged with bringing Juno, Venus and Minerva before Paris, who judged Venus as the most beautiful. The unusual form behind him may be a stylised roadside marker, as he was also the patron of travellers. (Venus Rising, 2005)

Title
Mercurio (Statue from Villa Montalto)
Artist/creator
Luigi Cunego
Production date
1787
Medium
etching
Dimensions
200 x 135 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, purchased 1955
Accession no
1955/36/24
Copyright
No known copyright restrictions
Department
International Art
Display status
Not on display

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