Mercury and Argos

"Mercury and Argus" is a compelling Baroque mythological painting created circa 1620 by Flemish artist Jacob Jordaens. Executed in oil on canvas, it depicts the mythological story from Ovid’s, where Mercury kills the giant Argus. This piece, housed in the Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon, is the first of Jordaens’ many versions exploring this narrative, with subsequent paintings portraying different scenes from the myth. The painting exemplifies dynamic composition and dramatic lighting characteristic of the Baroque style.