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

Art Historical Context

This engraving captures a pivotal moment from the Greek myth of Jason and the Golden Fleece, showing the sorceress Medea slaying her children in an act of vengeance against her unfaithful husband. Created in 1563 by engraver René Boyvin after designs by Leonard Thiry, the print belongs to a narrative series that retells the ancient tale through vivid, sequential images. Its compact format—roughly the size of a small book page—made it ideal for private study and collection during the Renaissance. Produced in France at the height of the Fontainebleau school’s influence, the work reflects the era’s renewed fascination with classical mythology and moral storytelling. Engravings like this one allowed intricate line work to convey dramatic emotion and architectural detail, helping spread humanist ideas beyond court circles. The French caption underscores the theme of retributive justice, inviting viewers to reflect on the tragic consequences of betrayal. Today preserved at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the print exemplifies how 16th-century artists blended literary tradition with technical precision to create accessible yet sophisticated works of art.

About the Artist

René Boyvin|Leonard Thiry · 1525–1580

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