[1][2] 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.

[4] 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.

[6] Considered to be Thorvaldsen's breakthrough work, the statue's theme stems from a drawing of Jason and the Golden Fleece by Asmus Jacob Carstens but the esthetic of the nude figure is also inspired by the Apollo Belvedere and Doryphoros, both from antiquity; the archaeologist Georg Zoëga also played an important role, expanding Thorwaldsen's knowledge of ancient history and culture.

In selecting the work, the Culture Canon committee commented on Thorvaldsen's white, sharp, intense and rhythmic lines, evoking a distant, heroic figure.

At the time Thorvaldsen created the statue, Denmark was evolving from absolute monarchy into a period of liberalism revolving around the individual citizen's view of the world.