{"product_id":"mercury-killing-argus-jacob-jordaens","title":"Mercury Killing Argus - Jacob Jordaens","description":"\u003cp\u003eA detailed 1652 etching by Jacob Jordaens depicting the mythological confrontation between Mercury and the giant Argus.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis etching depicts a scene from Ovid's Metamorphoses, where the god Mercury prepares to slay the giant Argus. According to the myth, Jupiter ordered Mercury to kill Argus, who had been tasked by Juno to guard the nymph Io. Jordaens captures the moment of tension just before the strike. Mercury stands in a dynamic pose, his sword raised, while the unsuspecting Argus sits slumped in a deep sleep against a rocky outcrop. The composition is typical of the Flemish Baroque, prioritising muscular anatomy and dramatic narrative movement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJordaens, a contemporary of Rubens, was known for his ability to convey physical weight and psychological intensity. In this print, the contrast between the alert, lithe figure of the god and the heavy, slumbering form of the giant creates a clear visual narrative. The inclusion of the cow, representing the transformed Io, and the watchful dog adds layers of classical symbolism to the scene. The etching technique allows for a range of textures, from the soft rendering of the figures' skin to the rougher, hatched lines defining the foliage and rocky terrain. The work is signed and dated 1652 in the lower margin, providing a clear point of reference for Jordaens' graphic output during his mature period. This print demonstrates the artist's mastery of light and shadow, using cross-hatching to model the forms and establish depth within the frame. It remains a fine example of seventeenth-century printmaking, reflecting the period's interest in classical themes and the expressive potential of the human figure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/portrait-of-charles-i-of-england-anthony-van-dyck\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003ePortrait of Charles I of England - Anthony van Dyck — Anthony van Dyck\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/pastoral-landscape-with-the-ponte-molle-claude-lorrain\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003ePastoral Landscape with the Ponte Molle - Claude Lorrain — Claude Lorrain\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Jacob Jordaens","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58435384705359,"sku":null,"price":37.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58435387392335,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58435387425103,"sku":null,"price":55.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58435387457871,"sku":null,"price":59.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58435387490639,"sku":null,"price":59.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58435387523407,"sku":null,"price":59.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58435387556175,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58435387588943,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58435387621711,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58435387654479,"sku":null,"price":99.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58435387687247,"sku":null,"price":99.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58435387720015,"sku":null,"price":99.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Mercury-Killing-Argus_Poster_CompositorV1_1786203075043.jpg?v=1786324795","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/products\/mercury-killing-argus-jacob-jordaens","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}