Herse Refusing Mercury Entrance to Aglauros' House - Anne Claude de Philippe, Comte de Caylus

An 18th-century etching by the Comte de Caylus, depicting a mythological encounter from Ovid's Metamorphoses based on a drawing by Timoteo Viti.

This etching by the Comte de Caylus depicts a scene from Ovid's Metamorphoses, specifically the moment Mercury seeks entry to the house of Aglauros, only to be confronted by her sister, Herse. The composition is based on a drawing by the Italian Renaissance artist Timoteo Viti, which was held in the collection of Pierre Crozat. Caylus, a significant figure in 18th-century French antiquarianism and printmaking, produced this work as part of his efforts to document and reproduce drawings from private collections.

The visual execution relies on clean, fluid lines that capture the classical drapery and the expressive postures of the figures. Mercury stands to the left, his form partially obscured by his cloak, while Herse occupies the doorway, her gesture conveying a firm refusal. Between them, a small putto figure adds a sense of narrative movement. The etching technique mimics the spontaneity of the original pen-and-ink sketch, prioritising clarity of form over tonal depth. The lower margin includes the original French inscription, identifying the subject and the provenance of the source drawing.

As a print, this work reflects the 18th-century interest in the 'Recueil Crozat', a project aimed at disseminating knowledge of master drawings through high-quality engravings. The Comte de Caylus was instrumental in this endeavour, applying his technical skill to translate the nuances of Renaissance draughtsmanship into a medium accessible to a wider audience of collectors and scholars. The print remains a precise record of a lost or inaccessible original drawing, maintaining the stylistic characteristics of the Italian school while showcasing the refined etching style prevalent in the French Rococo period.