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Lot Essay
A less finished treatment of this composition, in reverse to the present drawing and dated by Professor Roethlisberger to 1671, is in the British Museum (M. Roethlisberger, op. cit., 1968, no. 1028). These drawings do not seem to have been related to a specific commission at the time. However, Claude returned to the composition in a drawing dated 1677 now in the Kupferstichkabinett, Berlin (M. Roethlisberger, op. cit., 1968, no. 1111) which appears to be a study for the Landscape with Apollo and Mercury painted for Monseigneur de Bourlement in 1679, now lost but known through Claude's drawn copy of the composition in his Liber Veritatis (M. Roethlisberger, op. cit., 1968, no. 1112). Professor Roethlisberger notes that such a long gap between the invention of a motive and its appearance in a composition is not uncommon in Claude's work.
The subject of the composition is unusual. Apollo was ordered by Jupiter to guard the cattle of Admetus, but failed to prevent Mercury stealing them. Mercury was subsequently forced by Jupiter to return the herd, and is here shown making peace with his brother. The reconciliation is sealed by Mercury presenting Apollo with a lyre, and receiving in return a caduceus, gifts that were to become their respective attributes. Although the moment of the theft is more commonly depicted, the reconciliation gives Claude the opportunity to embue the landscape with calm and serenity.
The subject of the composition is unusual. Apollo was ordered by Jupiter to guard the cattle of Admetus, but failed to prevent Mercury stealing them. Mercury was subsequently forced by Jupiter to return the herd, and is here shown making peace with his brother. The reconciliation is sealed by Mercury presenting Apollo with a lyre, and receiving in return a caduceus, gifts that were to become their respective attributes. Although the moment of the theft is more commonly depicted, the reconciliation gives Claude the opportunity to embue the landscape with calm and serenity.