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Scenes from the Story of the Argonauts

ca. 1465
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 604
These two paintings likely once adorned a marriage chest (cassone) or served as decorative paneling (spalliera) in a domestic setting. The ancient Greek myth of Jason and the Argonauts unfolds across them in a continuous narrative, the same characters appearing in multiple episodes. At the top left of the first (upper) panel, Jason, rightful king of Thessaly—who wears distinctive gold armor throughout—confronts the usurper Pelias, who agrees to hand over the throne if Jason can retrieve the Golden Fleece. In the second (lower) panel, Jason and his companions work to steal the fleece. For more information about these two paintings, including a complete account of the narrative, visit their collection records at The Met website.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Scenes from the Story of the Argonauts
  • Artist: Jacopo di Arcangelo (called Jacopo del Sellaio) (Italian, Florence 1441/42–1493 Florence)
  • Date: ca. 1465
  • Medium: Tempera on wood, gilt ornaments
  • Dimensions: Overall 24 1/8 x 60 1/8 in. (61.3 x 152.7 cm); painted surface 19 5/8 x 56 in. (49.8 x 142.2 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1909
  • Object Number: 09.136.2
  • Curatorial Department: European Paintings

More Artwork

More Artwork
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Scenes from the Story of the Argonauts, Biagio d'Antonio Italian, Tempera on wood, gilt ornaments
Scenes from the Story of the Argonauts
Biagio d'Antonio
The Virgin Adoring the Child with the Infant Saint John the Baptist, Jacopo di Arcangelo (called Jacopo del Sellaio) Italian, Tempera and gold on wood
The Virgin Adoring the Child with the Infant Saint John the Baptist
Jacopo di Arcangelo (called Jacopo del Sellaio)
late 1480s
The Flight into Egypt, Cosmè Tura (Cosimo di Domenico di Bonaventura) Italian, Tempera on wood
The Flight into Egypt
Cosmè Tura (Cosimo di Domenico di Bonaventura)
1470s
Francesco Sassetti (1421–1490) and His Son Teodoro, Domenico Ghirlandaio (Domenico Bigordi) Italian, Tempera on wood
Francesco Sassetti (1421–1490) and His Son Teodoro
Domenico Ghirlandaio (Domenico Bigordi)
ca. 1488
Three Miracles of Saint Zenobius, Botticelli (Alessandro di Mariano Filipepi) Italian, Tempera on wood
Three Miracles of Saint Zenobius
Botticelli (Alessandro di Mariano Filipepi)
ca. 1500

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