Plate 33: the stage of mercury: the monument comprises five bays designed to simulate aged stonework encrusted with stalactites, giving the appearance of water trickling over it; a platform spans the three middle sections, each adorned with a painted canvas, and is flanked on either side by smaller bays; above the centre portal the globe of the world rests on the head of oceanus flanked at right and left by dolphins, which appear again atop the outermost sections; tritons sound their trumpets and extend standards bearing the coat of arms of antwerp and a labarum with the letters s. P. Q. A.;between them two genii empty water from large urns; seated on the rocky, reed-covered rise are neptune, holding his trident and rudder, and amphitrite, holding a cornucopia with her hand on the prow of a ship; towering over the two deities is the tall mast of a ship with banners flying and complete with rigging, crow's nest and furled sail; in the centre portal, the canvas backdrop represents a statue of mercury with personifications of the river schelde and the city of antwerp; in the opening to the left wealth empties a cornucopia in the lap of abundance; opposite is the personification of poverty as a family; in the niches flanking the monument stands statues of comus (god of revelry) and industria (daughter of poverty); after peter paul rubens; illustration for gaspar gevaerts' "pompa introitus" (antwerp, 1641)
etching. Date: 1635-1641 (c.). Dimensions: Height: 406 mm (plate-mark); Height: 649 mm (sheet); Width: 499 mm; Width: 543 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Gaspar Gevaerts. Collection: British Museum. Mercurius Abituriens (BM 1884,0112.64)
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