Provenance
Acquired by American Legacy Fine Arts directly from the artist
Description
In this painting, Adrian Gottlieb hauntingly and beautifully portrays a troubling psychological moment from Classical Greek mythology. The treacherous Medea, who is in love with Jason, the leader of the Argonauts, is contemplating murdering and dismembering her brother, Absyrtus. Her gruesome plan involves scattering pieces of her brother on the road so that when her father, King Aeëtes, pursues the lovers for the return of his Golden Fleece, he would have to stop to pick up his son’s body parts. Thus, offering more time for Medea and Jason to escape. Years later, Jason betrays Medea by marrying another woman. Again, Medea resorts to the dagger and slaughters their sons for revenge.
“Gottlieb’s personal fascination with interpreting ephemeral, yet deep, thoughts as a form of poetic idealism in painting prompts a distinct art language that merges the worlds of Realism and Impressionism. By applying the classical skills of the Old Masters, his contemporary subjects are given an enigmatic and timeless appeal.”
—Elaine Adams
Director, American Legacy Fine Arts
Exhibited
Adrian Gottlieb: Reflections, American Legacy Fine Arts, Pasadena, California, July 13 – August 17, 2018
Published
Editorial, American Art Collector, August 2018, pg. 106
