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Standing Mercury

Standing Mercury is an Auguste Rodin sculpture first presented in 1888. Inspired by humanism, Rodin depicts Mercury, the son of Jupiter and Maia, as a strong, youthful god rather than the mature figure of Greek tradition. The body touches the ground lightly at the toes, with the arms extended and the muscles clearly emphasized. The lower part blends into cloud-like or mound-like forms, and the work originated from La Faune, placed on the upper right of the model for The Gates of Hell. Rodin also removed the winged sandals usually associated with Mercury, making him appear closer to an ordinary human being. The sculpture later inspired Rodin’s Study of Apollo.

Standing Mercury, a dark bronze nude male sculpture posed with one leg lifted and both arms extended.
Standing Mercury by Auguste Rodin, shown here as a dark bronze figure on a simple base.
March 2005 © Museo Soumaya · Public domain
Standing Mercury bronze sculpture in a dynamic pose with outstretched arms and a dark textured form at the side.
Standing Mercury shown in dark patinated bronze, with outstretched arms and a rough-textured form merging into the base.
June 2016 © Museo Soumaya · Public domain
Standing Mercury bronze sculpture of a muscular male figure in a dynamic mid-stride pose
Standing Mercury by Auguste Rodin shown on a dark base with a windowed outdoor backdrop.
November 2019 © · Public domain
Standing Mercury by Auguste Rodin silhouetted against a bright blue sky with trees behind it.
Standing Mercury by Auguste Rodin seen in silhouette against a partly cloudy sky.
November 2019 © · Public domain

Identification

TitleStanding Mercury
TypeBronze sculpture

Creator

ArtistAuguste Rodin
Artist nationalityFrench

Historical context

Related workStudy of Apollo
Influence on other workStanding Mercury inspired Rodin's Study of Apollo
Placement in The Gates of HellPlaced on the central jamb of The Gates of Hell, on the right side, hanging upside down
Early versionAccording to curator John L. Tancock, in the first sketches for The Gates of Hell, Mercury emerged from rocks
Source workDerived from La Fauna, at the upper right of the maquette for The Gates of Hell
InspirationInspired by the humanism of the Renaissance
First exhibited1888

Iconography and meaning

PoseDescending from above, touching the ground with the tip of one foot and resting lightly on it, with arms extended
DepictionA strong young man representing eloquence and reason, shown more as a mortal man than as the mature god of traditional Greek depictions
Depicted figureMercury, son of Jupiter and Maia, messenger of the gods and guide of souls to the underworld
Role in The Gates of HellIn The Gates of Hell, Mercury is no longer a messenger god but one soul among the multitude waiting to be cast into the abyss of hell

Physical characteristics

BuildVigorous musculature
Missing body part treatmentThe missing part of the body merges into clouds or mounds

Other

Movement and compositionThe Gates of Hell allowed Rodin to deploy figures with unprecedented freedom of movement

History and restoration

Critical assessment by Camille ClaudelCamille Claudel said its graceful ease made it one of the sculptor's best, or happiest, works

Location and ownership

Later placement of related workAt the base of the monument to Domingo Faustino Sarmiento
Associated monument personDomingo Faustino Sarmiento, former Argentine president