Landschap met Mercurius die het vee van Apollo steelt Possibly 1776

This sepia-toned print, made by Richard Earlom in 1776, depicts Mercury stealing Apollo's cattle, set against a landscape dotted with classical ruins. Mercury, the trickster god, is shown in the act, while a shepherd sits serenely by a stream, seemingly oblivious to the theft. The scene echoes the ancient myth, but observe the ruins. These remnants of classical architecture evoke a sense of nostalgia and the passage of time, a theme that preoccupied many artists. This motif of ruins also surfaces in other contexts—from Piranesi's dramatic etchings of crumbling Roman monuments to Romantic paintings that depict nature reclaiming man-made structures. It signifies not just decay, but also the cyclical nature of history. This composition stirs deep-seated emotions tied to mortality and change. The psychological resonance of these symbols engages us on a subconscious level, connecting us to a shared cultural memory that spans centuries. It is this non-linear, cyclical progression of symbols that continues to fascinate.