Scenes from the Story of the Argonauts

Jacopo di Arcangelo (called Jacopo del Sellaio) Italian

Not on view

In this and its companion panel, the story of Jason and the Argonauts unfolds in a continuous narrative. At the left, Jason is charged by King Pelias to retrieve the Golden Fleece. Jason then mounts his horse and consults the centaur Chiron on Mount Pelion together with Hercules and Orpheus. In the distance is Jason's ship, the Argo.

In the second panel, King Aëetes and his daughters Medea and Chalciope meet Jason and his companions. At center, Jason plows the grove of Ares, where the Golden Fleece is guarded, while Orpheus lulls the dragon to sleep so that Jason may steal the fleece. At right, the king sends his sons off to capture the fleeing Jason and Medea. For more information about these two paintings, including a complete account of the narrative, visit metmuseum.org.

The engaged moldings of the panel are original; the pictures were probably installed as the backrests of two benches or were framed in the wainscoting of a room. As was often the case, more than one painter was involved.

Scenes from the Story of the Argonauts, Jacopo di Arcangelo (called Jacopo del Sellaio) (Italian, Florence 1441/42–1493 Florence), Tempera on wood, gilt ornaments

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