12517 Bernard de Montfaucon (1655–1741) – Classical Representations of Mercury – Engraving (1719)
"Mercure" This work provides a visual study of various depictions of the god Mercury from antiquity, specifically focusing on his role as the inventor of the lyre from a tortoise shell. The engraving was published in Paris as part of L'antiquité expliquée et représentée en figures, a monumental ten-volume series that aimed to document the daily life, religion, and art of the ancient world. The plate features three figures: a smaller seated Mercury from the collection of Nicolas-Claude Fabri de Peiresc, shown with a tortoise and a rooster, and two larger standing figures, one of which holds a tortoise shell. This plate reflects the Enlightenment-era desire to categorize and understand the complex iconography of ancient deities.
Bernard de Montfaucon was a French Benedictine monk and a pioneering scholar who is considered one of the founders of modern archaeology and palaeography. His work revolutionized the study of the past by prioritizing visual evidence from surviving artifacts and monuments over purely literary sources. Through his monumental publications, he established the systematic study of antiquity as a visual discipline. His contributions were foundational to the development of the history of art and the scientific documentation of the ancient world.
Artist or Maker: Bernard de Montfaucon.
Dimensions: Approximately 42 cm x 28 cm.
Medium: Engraving.
Date: 1719.
Condition Report:
This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.
| Värdering | 300 - 400 SEK |
| Köparprovision (inkl. moms) | 24.4% |
| Slagavgift (inkl. moms) | 6 SEK |
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