Title: Mercury and Argos (after Mercury and Argos by Velazquez, Museo del Prado)
Artist: Salvador Dali
Medium: Oil on canvas
Date: 1981
Dimensions: 140x95cm
Location: Dali Museum- Figures, Spain
http://www.illinoismedieval.org/EMS/VOL10/yager.html
Image: http://xtazi.com/dali/d171.jpg
Significance of the work:
According to Ovid’s Metamorphosis, the tale of Mercury and Argos involves a slew of jealousy and hatred so common in the lives of these “super-humans.” In Zeus’s lust and lack of self-control, he seduces one of Hera’s (his wife’s) priestesses, Io. To satisfy Hera’s jealousy Zeus turns Io into a cow which Hera then hands over to the 100 eyed Argos (typically depicted in natural human form with two eyes) to be guarded from Zeus. This painting shows Zeus’s response to Io’s imprisonment. He sends Mercury to kill Argos by lulling him to sleep with his flute. Once all of Argos’s eyes are closed and he is fast asleep, Mercury cuts off his prey’s head, freeing Io to the pleasure of Zeus.
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