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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
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
Lobster-Tail Burgonet, Steel, leather, gold, North Italian
Lobster-Tail Burgonet
North Italian
ca. 1610
Cassone with painted front panel depicting the Conquest of Trebizond, Apollonio di Giovanni di Tomaso Italian, Poplar wood, linen, polychromed and gilded gesso with panel painted in tempera and gold, Italian, Florence
Cassone with painted front panel depicting the Conquest of Trebizond
Attributed to workshop of Apollonio di Giovanni di Tomaso
and workshop of Marco del Buono Giamberti
after ca. 1461
The Triumph of Fame; (reverse) Impresa of the Medici Family and Arms of the Medici and Tornabuoni Families, Giovanni di ser Giovanni Guidi (called Scheggia) Italian, Tempera, silver, and gold on wood
The Triumph of Fame; (reverse) Impresa of the Medici Family and Arms of the Medici and Tornabuoni Families
Giovanni di ser Giovanni Guidi (called Scheggia)
ca. 1449

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