The original painting was based on the Greek Myth "Halcyon Days":

"Alcyone and Ceyx were admired by gods and mortals alike for their great physical beauty, as well as the profound love they had for each other. They were so happy in their marriage that they used to often playfully call one another Zeus and Hera. This infuriated the chief of the gods who regarded it an audacity. When Ceyx decided to make a journey across the ocean to visit an oracle, Zeus decided this was an opportune time to punish the couple for their sacrilege. He launched a thunderbolt that raised a furious hurricane engulfing the ship which sunk, drowning Ceyx. However, upon seeing Alcyon’s grief, Zeus regretted his rash action that was responsible for this tragedy and transformed the couple into the Halcyon birds (kingfisher), so they could once again be together.