Jason and Medea.

I find it interesting to know the stories behind most paintings. The talant of the artist can be admired, but the story, if there is one, brings much more to it.

Jason and The Medea has very different versions to it. Jason is in search of the Golden Fleece because King Pelias would only give up his throne to Jason who is the rightful heir, if he can retrieve the Fleece. Medea was the daughter of King Aeetes, and is often portrayed as the goddess Hecate who is known for her role in repelling evil spirits.
“The goddess Hecate taught Medea to handle magic herbs with exceeding skill all that the land and flowing waters produce. With them is quenched the blast of unwearied flame, and at once she stays the course of rivers as they rush roaring on, and checks the stars and the paths of the sacred moon.” - (Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica)

Her power and magic would only help Jason in his impossible tasks if he promised to marry her and of course he agreed. If you saw the film Jason and the Argonauts where the skeletons came up from the ground, she was the one who gave him the seeds (teeth) of a dragon that grew into the assembly of bony soldiers.
On his return journey they were married, but he began to tire of her and so it was arranged for him to marry Glauce, the daughter of the King Creon of Corinth. How Jason expected Medea to take his new engagement, but she reacted just as everyone else expected her to, with murderous intent.
Medea killed Jason's intended and then sought to inflict more pain on Jason and killed their sons. She would eventually flee from Corinth by chariot pulled by two dragons.
Every picture tells a story and this one tells you how passion can turn into hateful rage.