Jason bemachtigt het gulden vlies 1764

Jean Jacques Flipart created this print titled 'Jason bemachtigt het gulden vlies' – or Jason Seizes the Golden Fleece – sometime in the 18th century. It depicts a scene from Greek mythology in which Jason retrieves the Golden Fleece with the help of Medea. Prints like this one were important tools for spreading both classical learning and the visual culture of the French court. The figures’ poses and drapery emulate those of ancient sculpture, while the landscape setting and overall composition evoke the paintings of artists like Nicolas Poussin. Flipart also made prints after paintings by François Boucher. This print thus sits at the intersection of several important institutions: the academy, the print shop, and the court. It provides insights into the ways in which classical art and history were being interpreted and disseminated in 18th-century France. We can learn more about this context by consulting primary source material from the period, such as prints, treatises on art, and historical documents. By examining these sources, we can gain a deeper understanding of the social and cultural forces that shaped the production and reception of this print.