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Lot Essay
For a similar illustrated example of Mercury in the Kommerzienrat Bäuml, Nymphenburg, see Friedrich H. Hofmann, Geschichte der Porzellan-Manufaktur Nymphenburg (Leipzig 1921), p. 108, pl. 104, and p. 105, pl. 101 for a similar model of Vulcan in the Bayerisches Nationalmuseum, Münich.
These are from the 'Ovidian Gods' series of circa 1755, probably the earliest of Bustelli's models. See Rainer Rückert, Bustelli (Munich 1963). For a similar illustrated example of Mercury in the Kommerzienrat Bäuml, Nymphenburg, see Friedrich H. Hofmann, Geschichte der Porzellan-Manufaktur Nymphenburg (Leipzig 1921), p. 108, pl. 104, and p. 105, pl. 101 for a similar model of Vulcan or Cupid in the Bayerisches Nationalmuseum, Münich.
Although Mercury was the messenger of the Gods and typically personified Eloquence and Reason, the pipe he is playing probably alludes to the myth of him being sent by Jupiter to kill the hundred-eyed giant who was guarding Jupiter's love, Io, who had been turned into a cow by his wife Juno. Mercury used the pipe to lull the giant to sleep before dutifully killing him. It is difficult to be certain if the other figure depicts Vulcan, the god of fire and blacksmith of weapons for the gods and heroes, or if it depicts Cupid fashioning his own arrows of love. The former is more probable.
These are from the 'Ovidian Gods' series of circa 1755, probably the earliest of Bustelli's models. See Rainer Rückert, Bustelli (Munich 1963). For a similar illustrated example of Mercury in the Kommerzienrat Bäuml, Nymphenburg, see Friedrich H. Hofmann, Geschichte der Porzellan-Manufaktur Nymphenburg (Leipzig 1921), p. 108, pl. 104, and p. 105, pl. 101 for a similar model of Vulcan or Cupid in the Bayerisches Nationalmuseum, Münich.
Although Mercury was the messenger of the Gods and typically personified Eloquence and Reason, the pipe he is playing probably alludes to the myth of him being sent by Jupiter to kill the hundred-eyed giant who was guarding Jupiter's love, Io, who had been turned into a cow by his wife Juno. Mercury used the pipe to lull the giant to sleep before dutifully killing him. It is difficult to be certain if the other figure depicts Vulcan, the god of fire and blacksmith of weapons for the gods and heroes, or if it depicts Cupid fashioning his own arrows of love. The former is more probable.