An oil painting by the Venetian painter Titian depicts the meeting of Dionysus and Ariadne. Ariadne, on the left, has been abandoned by Theseus on the island of Naxos. The ship of Theseus can be seen departing in the background, to the left of Ariadne. In the center, the god Dionysus has just returned from his journey to India, accompanied by a crowd of Nymphs and Satyrs in a frenzy. The painting depicts Dionysus falling in love with Ariadne and descending from his chariot, which is being carried by two tigers, to approach her. She is terrified and attempts to flee. The constellation Corona Borealis in the upper left corner of the painting represents the happy outcome of this love affair, relating to Ovid's reference, according to which the god flung her wedding crown into the air, making her immortal.

The painting was commissioned by Alfonso I d'Este, Duke of Ferrara, to decorate the "Alabaster Room" (Camerino d'Alabastro) in the Duke's Palace in Ferrara, along with works by Giovanni Bellini and Dosso Dossi.