Mercury about to slay Argus

Thordwaldsen was one of the most crucial neo-classical artists of his time. He worked for most of his life in Rome. Mercury, the son of Jupiter and Maia, was the emissary of the gods. He is usually represented with his winged sandals (teleria) and a winged cap (petasus). Here, Mercury assists Jupiter free his lover Lo, who was being watched by the monster Argus. Argus’s body was shielded with one thousand eyes, some of which were open at all times. Mercury told long uninterested story tales and played on his pipes until Argus went to sleep so deeply, that he closed all of his eyes Mercury slayed him, freeing Io. Zeus, a Greek god, was married to Hera; however, he fell in with Io. Zeus had turned Io into a gorgeous white bovine to conceal her true identity from his wife Hera. She found Zeus beside the white helfer, claiming, he discovered the newly born cow. Hera knew that Zeus had been lying to her, but called his bluff and asked for the cow as a present. Feeling reluctant to do so, Zeus turned Io over to Hera as a gift intentionally that Hera would suspect something if he did not. Hera hired Argus to guard the helfer. He had a hundred eyes and could sleep while always leaving some eyes open, making him the ideal watchman. Incapable to withstand Io’s Anguish, Zeus called on Hermes, the messenger of the gods, and educated him to find a way to kill Argus to set Io free. Hermes was extremely clever, shedding all his godly wonder; he went to Argus as a country pleasant. Hermes makes a pipe of reeds as his seduce weapon and played to draw Argus’s attention. Argus found the music most enjoyable and invited Hermes to sit and play music beside him. The music did not work as Hermes hoped. Hermes ceased playing music and began to talk would...

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...love as a matter of courtship and chivalry so much as a matter of irritable passion. This passion is often who wished to live as a virgin, free from all men, but is pursued and/or raped by god. Mercury is really the savage in this story it’s not even a fair fight Jupiter had been burying his metaphorical sword in Io, but mercury’s act transforms sex into aggression and hostility; le petit mort is subsumed by le grant. The museum of Fine Arts is a small, but excellent museum. I will definitely visit again. The changing exhibits are always interesting. The docents are very good. Currently a great little impressionist collection and a southwest collection, but it changes. The building and grounds are part of the incredible experience. Once inside you can choose to explore on your own with free-recorded guided tour or with a docent. It is really good and great location.