Still Life with a Copy of De Waere Mercurius, a Broadsheet with the News of Tromp's Victory over three English Ships on 28 June 1639, and a Poem telling the story of Apelles and the Cobbler 1655

In 1655, Anthonius Leemans painted this still life with oil, capturing not just objects, but whispers of his time. Dominant is the "Wekelycke Waere Mercurius," a Dutch newspaper. Mercury, the swift messenger of the gods, symbolizes the rapid dissemination of news, echoing through Europe. But look closer. The musical instrument, the poem of Apelles and the Cobbler: these are not mere decorations. They are echoes of the Renaissance, a time of humanist revival when classical myths were used to convey moral messages. The poem tells us about the artist Apelles who valued both the opinions of his public and his own artistic vision. This is the duality of the creative genius and the artist's struggle. Observe how the motif of Mercury, a figure of swift communication, persists through time, shifting from mythology to journalism. It reflects our collective, perhaps subconscious, desire for knowledge and connection. This image, charged with symbolism, evokes a deep, resonating chord in the viewer, a powerful force that transcends centuries.