# Mercury

[View the canonical artwork record](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/goltzius-hendrick-r809a66441e195c/mercury-r6d05644d0e07a6>)

## Artwork

- Artist: [GOLTZIUS, Hendrick](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/goltzius-hendrick-r809a66441e195c>)
- Date: 1551-1600
- Technique: Oil on panel, 214 x 120 cm

## Commentary

Goltzius was commissioned by a Haarlem lawyer named Colterman to paint Hercules and Cacus. He also purchased Minerva and Mercury, which Goltzius had painted two years previously. Theory \(Mercury\) and practice \(Minerva\) lead to skill and virtue. Virtue is depicted by Hercules, who slays the evil giant Cacus.

## Related artworks

- [Apollo](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/goltzius-hendrick-r809a66441e195c/apollo-ra4c0d68e9e9a8e>)
- [Bacchus, Venus, and Ceres](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/goltzius-hendrick-r809a66441e195c/bacchus-venus-and-ceres-r16337be1501172>)
- [Calphurnius](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/goltzius-hendrick-r809a66441e195c/calphurnius-r783b7e62eef175>)
- [Circumcision in the Church of St Bavo at Haarlem](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/goltzius-hendrick-r809a66441e195c/circumcision-in-the-church-of-st-bavo-at-haarlem-rd73e04f0318bb5>)
- [Dirck Volkertsz Coornhert](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/goltzius-hendrick-r809a66441e195c/dirck-volkertsz-coornhert-r18ad71593a27ed>)
- [Hercules and Cacus](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/goltzius-hendrick-r809a66441e195c/hercules-and-cacus-r266df5157d6806>)
- [Icarus](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/goltzius-hendrick-r809a66441e195c/icarus-rbe1958e89a60af>)
- [Jupiter and Antiope](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/goltzius-hendrick-r809a66441e195c/jupiter-and-antiope-ra70724480efe0a>)
- [Lot and his Daughters](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/goltzius-hendrick-r809a66441e195c/lot-and-his-daughters-r9baee76bdb0b65>)
- [Minerva](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/goltzius-hendrick-r809a66441e195c/minerva-rac0c8b0c88bcdd>)
- [Phaeton](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/goltzius-hendrick-r809a66441e195c/phaeton-r0c3062e501c870>)
- [Portrait of Frederick de Vries](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/goltzius-hendrick-r809a66441e195c/portrait-of-frederick-de-vries-r61b8cde66889d1>)

## Attribution

[Web Gallery of Art](<https://beta.wga.hu/pages/about>)