Medea Kills Her Two Children by Jason (Pour qui d'Absyrte a le sang repandu, fait que du sien le tort lui soit rendu...)

Art Historical Context

This engraving captures a harrowing moment from Greek mythology, as Medea enacts her terrible revenge on Jason by slaying their two young sons. Created in 1563 by René Boyvin after a design by Leonard Thiry, the print illustrates the ancient tale with dramatic intensity. Medea appears at the center of the composition, surrounded by symbols of innocence and loyalty—putti and dogs—that heighten the emotional contrast between maternal love and vengeful fury. The French title inscribed below underscores the theme of retributive justice. Boyvin, a skilled engraver associated with the School of Fontainebleau, translated Thiry’s Mannerist drawing into a finely detailed print. Engraving, a relatively new reproductive medium in the sixteenth century, allowed such mythological scenes to reach a wider audience beyond courtly circles. This second state of three reveals subtle refinements in line work that enhance the figures’ expressive gestures and the architectural setting. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection of prints, the work reflects Renaissance fascination with classical tragedy and the moral complexities of human passion. Its intimate scale invites close viewing, rewarding the observer with both narrative drama and technical precision.

About the Artist

René Boyvin|Leonard Thiry · 1525–1580

French, Angers ca. 1525–1598 or 1625/6 Angers