Mercurius, Hendrik Goltzius
For centuries these three paintings of life-size nudes, the goddess Minerva, the god Mercury and the hero Hercules, have been an inseparable trio.
Mercury
The mythological figure of Mercury was patron of the arts and god of rhetoric. He is identified by his winged helmet, the snake-entwined caduceus and a cockerel. In this version, his caduceus looks very like a maulstick. At Mercury’s feet lie drawing attributes, a set square, compasses, a drawing and an album of drawing patterns. Behind him stands a girl sticking her tongue out and holding a rattle and a magpie. In this painting, too, wisdom and stupidity are united: the girl symbolizes foolish prattle.
