Penthée poursuivi par les Ménades

The mythological story behind the painting involves Pentheus's opposition to the worship of Dionysus. In the myth, Pentheus is lured to Mount Cithaeron by Dionysus, where he is discovered by the Maenads, including his own mother, Agave. In their frenzied state, the Maenads mistake Pentheus for a wild animal and tear him to pieces. This tragic tale is a central theme in Euripides' play "The Bacchae" and is also mentioned in Ovid's "Metamorphoses."

Source: Mistral.AI