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Minneapolis Institute of Art
Mercury Inventing the Lyre

Mercury Inventing the Lyre, John Raphael Smith, 1775

John Raphael Smith, portrait

John Raphael SmithBritish, 1752–1812

Mercury Inventing the Lyre

1775 · Print · 29.21 × 37.78 cm

May one see it?

Not receiving at present

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Minneapolis, United States

It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.

Checked: 2 days ago
In this state since: Sep 25, 2026
Source: The museum's own collection data

On the map Museum page

About the work

According to the myth of Mercury—the Roman god of commerce, communication, and trickery—he was just a few days old when he stole a herd of cattle that belonged to Apollo. After killing one of the bulls, Mercury made strings of its guts, stretched them over a tortoise shell, and the lyre was born. Though initially angry with Mercury, Apollo forgave his crime in exchange for the new string instrument.

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Particulars

1775 · aged 23

17521812

Accession number: P.47.46

In the catalog

Prints Mezzotint Rococo Neoclassicism 18th century England

Sources

Minneapolis Institute of Art: the museum's own open data · fetched 8 days ago
Image: Minneapolis Institute of Art — public domain

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