Figure Studies
Mercury and Argus
Carel Fabritius
A dramatic narrative scene from classical mythology, expertly rendered with a rich, atmospheric use of light and shadow.
Mercury, Argus and Io
Govert Flinck
1640 · Oil Paint, Oakwood, Panel
A masterful Dutch Golden Age portrayal of the mythological story of Mercury and Argus, featuring rich chiaroscuro.
$243
For the selected configuration
From $129
3 frame sizes
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Made to order in ~2 business days · Free U.S. standard shipping (typically 5–8 business days after dispatch)
Where it works
A measured, grounding piece with warm, lived-in color — sits comfortably in a more formal setting.
- Often works in
- Library · Study · Dining Room
- Placement
- Reads naturally above long furniture lines
- Walls
- Reads strongest on light or mid-tone walls
- Color notes
- Charcoal black, Deep burgundy, Soft gray
About the piece
This 1640 oil on panel by Govert Flinck, a prominent pupil of Rembrandt, illustrates a famous episode from Ovid's Metamorphoses. The composition centers on the moment Mercury charms the hundred-eyed giant Argus into a deep sleep to rescue Io, who appears as a striking white cow in the foreground. The work is defined by its atmospheric lighting and the elegant tension between the figures and their rustic, wooded surroundings.
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