Public domain
The Young Mercury Steals Cattle from Apollo's Herd
From the collection of Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
Having been banished from Olympus, Apollo now toils as a cowherd. Engrossed in playing the flute, he is unaware that his half-brother Mercury is busy pilfering his cattle. The little thief has wings on his feet. The lyre, a stringed instrument, hanging from a tree trunk is believed to have been invented by Mercury and served as a medium of exchange for the stolen cattle.
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam’s own descriptionSubjects
Credit lineDe jonge Mercurius steelt runderen van Apollo’s kudde. 1530 - 1550. Girolamo da Santacroce (ca.1480-1556). Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Public domain.
