The Seven Planets: Mercury

Engraving, part of a set of seven oval engravings illustrating the seven planets, created by Etienne Delaune in 1575. Each print contains an allegorical representation of one of the seven planets, made up of the god that presides each planet, sitting on clouds and endowed with their traditional attributes, with one or two astrological signs representing the planet being, and the corresponding symbols for each planet, which are also chemical symbols.




In this engraving, Mercury reclines over a sphere, towards which he points with his finger, his head covered by winged hat and holding a staff on his hand. Delaune often associated the sphere to Mercury, and Mercury with astronomy, of which the sphere is an attribute. To his right, near the center of the frame, is the symbol of Gemini, the 'day house' of the planet Mercury, represented by two interlaced putti (twins). Below them, slightly to the right, is a kneeled angel, seen from behing, who represents the sign of Virgo, the 'night house' of the planet. This angel holds two wheat ears, symbols of the summer, as a reminder that Virgo is an attribute of the month of August, the time of harvests. These two signs are accompanied by their astrological symbols. Next to Mercury's head, on the left, is the symbol of the planet, which is also a chemical sign of quicksilver or mercury.