Ovid’s Mercury and Battus

DESCRIPTION: This print depicts a mythological scene from Ovid's Metamorphoses titled Mercury and Battus. Artist: The work is attributed to Robert Willemsz de Baudous. It shows the god Mercury, disguised as a shepherd, conversing with the elderly shepherd Battus in a landscape filled with cattle. Details: The detailed engraving features pastoral elements, including sheep and cattle in the background. The Story Behind the Image: The scene illustrates a classic tale of deception and its consequences:The Theft: Mercury (the god of thieves) stole a herd of cattle belonging to his brother, Apollo. The Witness: An old shepherd named Battus was the only witness to the theft. The Bribe: To ensure silence, Mercury bribed Battus with a cow. Battus promised not to tell anyone, stating that a stone would speak sooner than he would. The Test: Suspicious, Mercury returned in disguise and offered Battus a greater reward (a cow and a bull) to reveal the location of the herd. The Transformation: Battus immediately broke his promise and revealed the secret. As punishment for his betrayal, Mercury transformed him into a stone (specifically flint). Visual Elements In this particular composition, Apollo is shown in the foreground playing a pan flute. He is distracted by his music and love, which allowed Mercury to steal the cattle seen in the background. Mercury is typically identifiable by his winged helmet or sandals, while Battus is depicted as the old shepherd engaging with him. STYLE: Engraving COLOUR: Monochrome SIZE (cm): 14 x 10 CREATORS: after Robert Willemsz de Baudous PUBLICATION: PUBLISHER: DATE: ?C18 COMMENTS: Excellent condition SUBJECT: Classics & Literature PACKAGE: Single one-sided sheet in acid-free mount, flat & unfolded inside hard-backed envelope. Royal Mail Tracked 24 included. Note: Images are provided for illustration purposes only and are intended to show the complete printed product, including any imperfections of age that may be present. Frames or props shown in the images are for display purposes only and are not included with your purchase.