Mercury, Mantegna Tarocchi — Antique Celestial Print

Mercury steps out in his signature winged boots and helmet, piping a flute beside a caduceus twined with small dragons rather than the familiar serpents — a staff Apollo gave him in trade for the lyre Mercury himself invented. At his feet lies the severed head of Argus, the hundred-eyed giant he lulled to sleep and slew as a favor to Jupiter, a nod to the cunning that, along with his speed, gave the fastest-moving planet its name. Second in the ascending planetary sequence that closes the Tarocchi series, after the Moon and before Venus, this plate is part of the 50-engraving E-series produced in northern Italy around 1465, a set that runs from social rank through the Muses and the Liberal Arts to the Virtues and, finally, the heavens. The prints are traditionally associated with Andrea Mantegna, though scholars now doubt he engraved them and their true author remains uncertain.

Materials & origin

• Material: 200 gsm gallery-grade, acid-free fine-art paper (FSC-certified).
• Print: Archival giclée, 12-colour printing, smooth matte finish for glare-free display.
• Artwork: Restored from a public-domain original; colour and detail digitally cleaned for large-format print.
• Origin: Made on demand and shipped from the print hub nearest you, cutting transit and waste.
• Framing: Sold unframed; ships rolled in a protective tube.