Focus on Jason with the Golden Fleece (Thorvaldsen) and discuss the History.
The sculpture expresses the principle themes of the Ancient Greek myth of Jason recounted by the Alexandrian poet Apollonius of Rhodes, about a hero who traveled on a voyage in search of the Golden Fleece in an attempt to help his father recover his kingdom from King Pelias. A vase painting of Jason from the 3rd century BC depicts Jason removing the Golden Fleece from the sacred tree.Thorvaldsen's work was initially executed for the Copenhagen Academy to demonstrate his progress; a marble version was subsequently commissioned by Thomas Hope, a wealthy English art patron. When Hope's eventual heirs dispersed his collection at Deepdene, Surrey, in 1917, it was acquired by Copenhagen's Thorvaldsen Museum at auction.
Copenhagen Apollonius of Rhodes sculpture Deepdene, Surrey Thorvaldsen Museum Pelias Copenhagen Academy Jason Thomas Hope art patron Golden Fleece