On July 28, 1788, Jonas Åkerström traveled as the Swedish Academy of Fine Arts fellow to Rome, where he stayed until his death in 1795. He was the first artist to receive the Academy's major gold medal, instituted by Gustaf III as early as 1773. The honorary degree entitled him to six years of paid study abroad.

Prior to his departure, he had been well educated in classical iconography and neoclassical theory by his teacher at the academy, Johan Tobias Sergel, and Louis Masreliez, the only one besides Sergel competent to teach these subjects. From May 1788 until his departure, Åkerström was Masreliez's assistant in connection with his work with the interiors of the Royal Palace in Stockholm.Sergel had high hopes for his former student.

When in 1793 he saw evidence of what he had accomplished in Rome, he was not disappointed. It was up to foreign scholarship recipients to send home samples of what they had achieved during their stay abroad. On 12 July 1793, Sergel wrote to Gustaf Mauritz Armfelt, who had just arrived in Italy as the new Swedish minister (Armfelt collection, Riksarkivet, 5; Rapp, op. cit., 1998, p. 121-22): ”Åkerström has just sent home charming paintings in the right antique style with beautiful color and correct drawing. In my opinion, he will be our foremost Swedish history painter in the competition with now living artists ”.

The young artist's fate ended at the age of 36 when he died of pneumonia in Rome. Many mourned his death. The general perception was that Sweden lost one of its most talented artists. The architect and court superintendent Carl Fredrik Sundvall wrote in a letter to the artist Adolf Ulrik Wertmüller in New York dated Stockholm 19 February 1796 (E. E. Arehn, Gustavianska Konstnärsbref. C. F. Sundvall to AU Wertmüller, 1916, p. 61): “The Swedish arts have recently made a very large loss in the field of history painting through Åkerström's death, which occurred in Rome in November. This man was born a painter. He had made astonishing progress during his stay in Rome, gifted as he was with a dubious talent and with the happiest conditions as an artist."

Jonas Åkerström traveled from Sweden to Rome in 1788 by means of a scholarship that gave an annual support from the king's hand box. From Rome, he sent pictures to his friend and teacher at the Konstakademia Johan Tobias Sergel.

Sergel had great hopes for his student and wrote in 1793 in a letter to Gustaf Mauritz Armfelt, who was in Rome: "Åkerström has just sent charming paintings in the right antique style with beautiful color and correct drawing. In my opinion, he will be our premier Swedish storyteller in the competition with now live artists.

However, the fate of the young artist ended at the age of 36 when he died of lung disease in Rome in 1795. Many were the ones who mourned his death. The architect and chief duke Sundvall wrote in a letter to Wertmüller in 1796:

"We have made an irreparable loss through the death of Åkerströms [...]. Never has a man left Sweden with so much talent, pride and sense for the arts as he! ". Jonas Åkerström often found his motives in Greek mythology. This auction's Ariadne et Baccus appears to be one of several versions that, with variations, lead Åkerström to an oil painting that is present at the National Museum collection.

Well crafted with beautiful details, Åkerström captures the classic myth of Ariadne and the god of wine and has made supplements and changes that make the image a unique expression.