Artwork

Mercury

Mercury, by Unknown, 1750
Mercury, by Unknown, 1750

Mercury is a drawing by the Baroque artist Unknown. It dates from 1750 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

The drawing 'Mercury' is a sketch depicting a muscular male figure with wings on his heels and a hat in one hand. The work showcases loose and quick lines with shading to convey movement and anatomy.

Subject & Meaning

The figure is posed sideways with his body turned slightly towards the viewer, while his head faces forward. The subject is likely the Roman messenger god Mercury, identifiable by his winged heels.

Technique & Style

The drawing's loose and expressive lines, combined with shading, suggest a study focused on capturing the body's shape and the details of the wings. The style is characteristic of a preparatory work, possibly for a larger composition.

Artist & collection

Artist

Unknown

entity whose identity is not known

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.