Art Funded by you

Mercury piping to Argus

Jan Lys, 1655–1660

© National Gallery, London

Mercury, in a winged cap, is playing a pipe to Argus, a grey-bearded old man in a dark dress who bends towards him, fascinated. On the left appears the head of a white cow, the transformed Io, with dark sky above and light below, over a rocky horizon.

More information

Title of artwork, date

Mercury piping to Argus, 1655–1660

Date supported

1920

Medium and material

Oil

Dimensions

114 x 100 cm

Gifted by

A G H Ward

Content note: This object record is part of our archive and has not been updated since it was first published. It may contain inaccurate information or outdated language. Please get in touch if you think this record should be amended.

Art Funded by you FAQs

Contact us

If you have a question about a work of art in our archive, please contact the Programmes team. We’ll be happy to answer your enquiry.