The flying Mercury with his finger pointing to the sky is a symbol of the divine origin of knowledge, in particular for students. The original work of Giambologna (Douai 1529-Florence 1608) is preserved at the Museo Civico of Bologna. This artist made several versions of the same sculpture on commission of the Medici family. This beautiful work of art, made between the nineteenth and the twentieth century, stands on a marble and bronze base depicting a scene with putti, naked women and satyrs.
