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Jupiter and Mercury in the House of Philemon and Baucis

A work made of engraving in black on ivory laid paper.
CC0 Public Domain Designation

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  • A work made of engraving in black on ivory laid paper.

Date:

1612

Artist:

Hendrik Goudt (Dutch, 1583-1648)
after Adam Elsheimer (German, 1578-1610)

About this artwork

Adam Elsheimer’s small-scale paintings of mysterious interiors and fantastical landscapes influenced artists throughout Europe, particularly after Hendrik Goudt translated them into prints. Although Goudt engraved only eight of Elsheimer’s images, they inspired a generation of printmakers in pursuit of magical light and shadow, most notably Rembrandt.

This work depicts a moral tale by Ovid in which the gods Jupiter and Mercury disguise themselves as peasants before visiting a town in Phrygia and asking for a place to sleep. They are met with disdain by everyone except an impoverished couple who generously extend hospitality beyond their means. In turn, Jupiter and Mercury reward the couple with a comfortable life while destroying the rest of the town and everyone in it.

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Prints and Drawings

Artist

Hendrick von Goudt

Title

Jupiter and Mercury in the House of Philemon and Baucis

Place

Netherlands (Artist's nationality:)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

Made 1612

Medium

Engraving in black on ivory laid paper

Dimensions

21.3 × 22 cm (8 7/16 × 8 11/16 in.)

Credit Line

Estate of George F. Porter

Reference Number

1927.1666

IIIF Manifest  The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world.

Learn more.

https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/41162/manifest.json

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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