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
Plate: 6 5/16 × 9 in. (16 × 22.8 cm) Sheet: 9 in. × 13 1/16 in. (22.9 × 33.2 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Herbert Mitchell, 2008
Accession Number
2018.839.53.11
Art Historical Context
This engraving captures a dramatic moment from Greek mythology, illustrating the tragic death of King Pelias at the hands of his own daughters. Part of a series depicting the adventures of Jason and the Golden Fleece, the scene shows the princesses, deceived by Medea, boiling their father in a cauldron under the false promise of renewed youth. The French inscription hints at their misguided pity and the violent act that follows, underscoring themes of deception and fate central to the ancient tale. Created in 1563 by engraver René Boyvin after designs by Leonard Thiry, the work reflects the r...
About the Artist
René Boyvin|Leonard Thiry · 1525–1580
French, Angers ca. 1525–1598 or 1625/6 Angers