Pelias Killed by his Daughters (Dont par pitié elles prennent courage son sang vider par violent outrage...), from "Jason and the Golden Fleece"
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
Sheet: 6 3/8 × 9 3/16 in. (16.2 × 23.3 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Herbert Mitchell, 2008
Accession Number
2018.839.53.4
Art Historical Context
This engraving, created in 1563 by René Boyvin after designs by Leonard Thiry, captures a dramatic moment from the ancient Greek myth of Jason and the Golden Fleece. The scene shows the daughters of King Pelias, deceived by Medea into believing they can restore their father’s youth by boiling him alive. Their horrified expressions and the violent act underscore themes of betrayal, illusion, and tragic misunderstanding that run through the larger narrative cycle. Produced during the French Renaissance, this print reflects the elegant, mannerist style associated with the School of Fontainebleau...
About the Artist
René Boyvin|Leonard Thiry · 1525–1580
French, Angers ca. 1525–1598 or 1625/6 Angers