Commerce God Collection

Minerva surrounded by Mercury, Diana, Apollo and Vulcan. Private Collection

Venus with Mercury and Cupid. Artist: Van Loo, Louis Michel (1707-1771)
Venus with Mercury and Cupid. Found in the collection of Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando, Madrid

Hermes presenting Pandora to King Epimetheus, 1611. Creator: Goltzius
Hermes presenting Pandora to King Epimetheus, 1611. Found in the collection of Art Museum Basel

Mercury, Argus and Io, 1492-1494. Creator: Pinturicchio, Bernardino (1454-1513)
Mercury, Argus and Io, 1492-1494. Found in the Collection of Appartamenti Borgia, Vatican

Mercury, c. 1880. Found in the Collection of Muse e Rodin, Paris

Mercury and Argus, 1716. Found in the Collection of Accademia di San Luca

Mercury, Herse and Aglaurus, 1767. Found in the collection of Nationalmuseum Stockholm

Mercury. Found in the collection of Nationalmuseum Stockholm

Venus and Mars warned by Mercury, ca 1586. Artist: Spranger, Bartholomeus (1546-1611)
Venus and Mars warned by Mercury, ca 1586. Found in the collection of Art History Museum, Vienne

The Toilet of Venus. Artist: Boulogne, Bon de, L aine (1649-1717)
The Toilet of Venus. Found in the collection of Musee de l Histoire de France, Chateau de Versailles

Jupiter, Mercury and the Virtue (Jupiter Painting Butterflies). Artist: Dossi, Dosso (ca. 1486-1542)
Jupiter, Mercury and the Virtue (Jupiter Painting Butterflies). Found in the collection of Wawel Royal Castle, Krakow

Mercury and Argus, 1636-1638. Artist: Rubens, Pieter Paul (1577-1640)
Mercury and Argus, 1636-1638. Found in the collection of the Museo del Prado, Madrid

Mercury, 1556-1557. Artist: Gherardi, Cristofano (1508-1556)
Mercury, 1556-1557. Found in the collection of the Palazzo Vecchio, Florence

Mercury meets Herse. Found in the Collection of Art History Museum, Vienne

Mercury and Argus. Found in the Collection of Herzog Anton Ulrich Museum, Braunschweig

Venus with Mercury and Cupid (The School of Love), c. 1525. Artist: Correggio (1489-1534)
Venus with Mercury and Cupid (The School of Love), c. 1525. Found in the collection of the National Gallery, London

Mercury and Argus, 1645-1647. Artist: Fabritius, Carel (1622-1654)
Mercury and Argus, 1645-1647. Found in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Mercury, Argus and Io, ca 1592. Artist: Bloemaert, Abraham (1566-1651)
Mercury, Argus and Io, ca 1592. Found in the collection of the Centraal Museum, Utrecht

Mercury piping to Argus, 1655-1657. Artist: Loth, Johann Karl (1632-1698)
Mercury piping to Argus, 1655-1657. Found in the collection of the National Gallery, London

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"Commerce God: The Divine Influence on Trade and Prosperity" In the realm of art, various depictions of gods and goddesses have long symbolized different aspects of human existence. Among these divine figures, Mercury, also known as Hermes in Greek mythology, has been revered as the god of commerce and trade. From classical paintings to Renaissance masterpieces, artists throughout history have captured the essence of this deity's influence on economic prosperity. One such portrayal is Louis Michel Van Loo's "Venus with Mercury and Cupid, " where Mercury stands alongside Venus, representing his role as a mediator between love and wealth. Similarly, Goltzius' "Hermes presenting Pandora to King Epimetheus" showcases how Mercury facilitated the introduction of Pandora into the world – an allegory for curiosity leading to commercial endeavors. Bernardino Pinturicchio's "Mercury, Argus and Io" depicts another facet of this god's power by highlighting his ability to communicate across realms. In contrast, Bon de Boulogne's "The Toilet of Venus" captures a moment when Venus seeks guidance from Mercury before embarking on her amorous adventures with Mars. Mercury’s association with other gods further emphasizes his importance in commerce. In works like Bartholomeus Spranger’s "Venus and Mars warned by Mercury, " we witness him acting as a messenger who advises caution amidst passion-driven pursuits. Meanwhile, Pieter Paul Rubens' rendition portrays their encounter in “Mercury and Argus, ” showcasing both deception and vigilance within business transactions. Beyond mere intermediation lies Jupiter Painting Butterflies in Dosso Dossi’s artwork titled “Jupiter, Mercury and Virtue. ” Here we see that even supreme beings recognize the significance of small-scale interactions that contribute to overall prosperity. Throughout centuries-spanning artworks featuring this celestial figure - be it Van Loo or Rubens - one thing remains clear: Mercury embodies the spirit of commerce, facilitating connections and fostering growth.