Jason and the Dragon

In Ovid’s telling of the story of Jason, the hero poured a potion from Medea into the eyes of the dragon guarding the Golden Fleece. The creature became sleepy and Jason procured the fleece, and Medea as his bride. In Rosa’s dynamic composition, typical of the Baroque period, strong diagonals and loosely etched lines render the dramatic moment when Jason attacks the dragon. Both the creature’s lashing tail and Jason’s billowing cloak indicate the intensity of the physical struggle, while Jason’s strong stance and victorious expression signal the outcome of the encounter.