Jacob JORDAENS
Flemish 1593-1678
Mercury and Argus
c.1635-40
oil on panel
49.5 x 64.5 cm
Presented throughThe Art Foundation of Victoria by Mr James Fairfax AO, Honorary Life Benefactor 1996
1996.658

In his day, Jordaens was regarded almost as highly as his two Flemish contemporaries Rubens and Van Dyck, though unlike them he did not travel outside his native country. The subject of this painting concerns one of the amours of the god Jupiter with the nymph Io as related in Ovid's Metamorphoses. At this point in the complicated story, Jupiter has already turned Io into a beautiful white heifer to protect her from his jealous wife, Juno. Upon realising this, Juno asked to be given the heifer and, in order to maintain the subterfuge, Jupiter agreed. Still suspicious, Juno also sent Argus to guard Io, and consequently Jupiter sent Mercury to lull Argus asleep with his music, kill him and rescue Io.

Jordaens has painted the tense moment of anticipation before the peaceful scene is shattered by the slaying. Mercury has put aside his flute and begins to draw his sword to decapitate the sleeping Argus.