De Lairesse painted a classic tale from the Metamorphoses by the Roman poet Ovid. Princess Ariadne is abandoned by her lover on the island of Naxos. There, she meets Bacchus, the god of wine, who instantly falls in love with her and grants her immortality. As a wedding gift, he transforms her crown into the constellation Corona Borealis ensuring that she will be remembered forever. In the painting, her starry crown shines bright amidst the pink clouds.