German Censer, 1498 silver gilt © 1998, The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore

Mercury, related works

The illustration of Mercury in The Housebook shows a goldsmith and his wife hard at work in their shop. Along with the manufacture of iron weapons and industrial equipment, fine metalworking flourished in southern Germany in the late fifteenth century, exemplified by this magnificent censer, which so closely resembles the engraving by Martin Schongauer in this exhibition.

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