Mercury and Argus

Dateca. 1732

Label TextAmigoni’s decorative impulse creates a harmonious pastoral reverie from a story of jealousy, revenge, and trickery among the gods. The young man playing the flute is Mercury, sent by Jupiter to lull the giant Argus to sleep before killing him. Jupiter’s jealous wife had ordered Argus to guard the goddess Io, whom she had already changed into a heifer so that Jupiter could not pursue her.

Object number51.123

Provenance[Charles D. Childs Gallery, Boston, until 1951]; purchased from gallery for Seattle Art Museum by Mr. and Mrs. Clark, Seattle, June 4, 1951

Photo CreditPhoto: Elizabeth Mann

Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, "Porcelain Stories: From China to Europe", February 17, 2000-May 7, 2000 (2/17/2000 - 5/7/2000) Vancouver, British Columbia, Vancouver Art Gallery, "Old Masters: Baroque Paintings," April 16, 1952 - May 4, 1952 (4/16/1952 - 5/4/1952) Seattle, Washington, Henry Art Gallery, "XVIII Century Venetian Drawings: Drawings from American Academic Collections, Paintings from the Seattle Art Museum," September 22, 1974 - October 20, 1974 (9/22/1974 - 10/20/1974) Published ReferencesBoris, F. and G. Cammarota. Accademia Clementina no. 27 (September 1990): 112 Henry Art Gallery. XVIII Century Venice: Drawings from American Academic Collections, Paintings from the Seattle Art Museum. Exhibition Catalogue, Henry Art Gallery. Seattle, Washington, 1974, 5 Seattle Art Museum. Engagement Calendar. June, 1953, no. 24 Vancouver Art Gallery. Baroque Art: Catalogue. Exhibition Catalogue, Vancouver Art Gallery. Vancouver, British Columbia, 1952, page 5, plate 24

Credit LineGift of Mr. and Mrs. Charles M. Clark

Dimensions30 1/2 x 25 1/2 in. (77.5 x 64.8 cm)

MediumOil on canvas