Mercury and Aglauros c. 1566

Giovanni Battista Naldini rendered this drawing, Mercury and Aglauros, in sanguine. Here, Mercury's winged helmet marks him as the fleet-footed messenger of the gods, while Aglauros, sister of Herse, is depicted in a moment of avarice. The dynamic tension between the figures—Mercury reaching, Aglauros resisting—echoes across centuries, reminiscent of ancient depictions of struggle and transformation. Think of the Laocoön, writhing in agony, or even earlier Mesopotamian depictions of Gilgamesh wrestling lions. Note Aglauros's gesture of refusal, her arm raised defensively; it’s a universal symbol of denial, seen in countless images of saints rejecting temptation, or mortals defying fate. Such gestures become ingrained in our collective consciousness, resurfacing in art, theater, and even everyday life. They carry a latent emotional charge, triggering deeply rooted responses. This image is more than just a mythological scene. It’s a mirror reflecting our own internal struggles, our desires, and our fears, perpetually re-enacted on the stage of human existence.