{"product_id":"vrede-en-mercurius-jan-luyken","title":"Vrede en Mercurius - Jan Luyken","description":"\u003cp\u003eA detailed 1681 etching by Jan Luyken depicting an allegorical scene of Mercury and Peace, reflecting the political and trade climate of the Dutch Golden Age.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis etching by Jan Luyken, dated 1681, functions as an allegorical frontispiece or illustration, typical of the period's preference for classical symbolism in political and historical commentary. The composition features Mercury, the god of commerce and communication, identifiable by his caduceus and winged helmet, standing alongside a female figure representing Peace, who holds a palm branch. The inclusion of the text 'Mercure Hollandois de l'An 1679' suggests the work relates to the Dutch political climate and trade relations during the late seventeenth century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLuyken, a prolific Dutch engraver and poet, demonstrates his technical proficiency through the use of varied line weights to define form and texture. The foreground features a seated male figure, perhaps representing a weary or defeated state, positioned near a drum and discarded military equipment. This juxtaposition of classical deities with symbols of conflict and commerce reflects the broader European preoccupation with the consequences of war and the necessity of trade for national stability. In the background, a scene of public execution or punishment provides a stark contrast to the divine figures, grounding the allegory in the harsh realities of the era.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe print exhibits the characteristic precision of Dutch Golden Age graphic arts. Luyken employs cross-hatching to create depth and shadow, ensuring the figures remain the primary focus against the lighter, etched sky. The architectural elements, including the pedestal and the distant structures, provide a sense of scale and place. This work is a fine example of how seventeenth-century printmakers communicated complex political narratives through a visual language familiar to their contemporaries. The inclusion of the publisher's details at the bottom, 'Chez Henry, et la veuve de Th. Boom, 1681', confirms its role as a commercial publication, likely intended for a book or pamphlet.\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\/cupid-led-by-two-dancing-women-paulus-moreelse\" 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;\"\u003eCupid Led by Two Dancing Women by Paulus Moreelse\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/the-calumny-of-apelles-giorgio-ghisi\" 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;\"\u003eThe Calumny of Apelles by Giorgio Ghisi\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/jan-luyken\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#2a555a;border:1px solid #2a555a;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#ffffff;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eJan Luyken prints →\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Jan Luyken","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":59462045598031,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":59462049923407,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":59462049956175,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":59462049988943,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":59462050021711,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":59462050054479,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":59462050087247,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":59462050120015,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":59462050152783,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":59462050185551,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":59462050218319,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":59462050251087,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Vrede-en-Mercurius_Poster_CompositorV1_1792113430989.jpg?v=1794358565","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/products\/vrede-en-mercurius-jan-luyken","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}