Apollo And Daphne, A Large Oil-on-canvas Painting From The Late 17th Century Based On The Metamorphoses By

A large oil-on-canvas painting from the second half of the 17th century depicting “Apollo and Daphne,” inspired by the famous tale from Ovid’s *Metamorphoses*.

This beautiful composition illustrates the most dramatic moment of the myth: as Apollo, struck by Cupid’s golden arrow, is about to seize the nymph Daphne, she implores her father, the river god Peneus, to save her. Her wish is granted, and her body begins to transform into a laurel tree. Her arms become branches, her fingers are covered with leaves, while her body gradually turns into a trunk.

The painter has masterfully captured this suspended moment in which the pursuit turns into a miracle. The composition is full of momentum and movement: Apollo’s scarlet cloak flutters as he runs, while Daphne’s desperate gesture conveys all the dramatic tension of the scene.

The two monumental figures stand out against a vast wooded landscape, rendered with great sensitivity. The color scheme is particularly harmonious, alternating the deep greens of the landscape with the warm tones of the skin and the brilliant red of Apollo’s drapery. The work as a whole demonstrates a fine mastery of late 17th-century Baroque painting.

This iconography, immortalized by the greatest artists—notably Bernini in his famous sculptural group—remains one of the most poetic themes in ancient mythology, symbolizing impossible love, the flight of desire, and the birth of the tree dedicated to Apollo.

The painting has undergone a high-quality restoration in the past. This restoration revealed several particularly interesting corrections made by the artist, visible in Apollo’s leg, his cloak, and the position of one of his fingers, offering insight into the painter’s creative process.

The painting is in excellent condition. It is presented in an elegant 20th-century gilded wooden frame that perfectly highlights the composition.

Dimensions

• Canvas: 82.5 × 56.5 cm
• With frame: 95 × 69 cm

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