Apollo and Daphne
February 25th, 2007 by md
This is one of the most beautiful sculptures in the world. It’s actually my favorite sculpture. It’s Bernini’s Apollo and Daphne. It captures the moment when, as Apollo is chasing Daphne in a blind lust, her father, a river god, begins to change her into a Laurel tree to save her from moral ruin. Apollo is carved beautifully and alone would be a remarkable piece of sculpture. But Daphne, caught in mid-transformation, is astounding. At her feet, roots grow from her toes. Bark forms on the surface of her legs and circles her torso. Her arms are lifted up as branches and the tips of her fingers stretch into branches topped with delicate laurel leaves. The leaves have veins and are almost translucent because the marble is so thin.
You can see Apollo and Daphne in the Borghese Gallery in Rome. While you are there, you should also go see the other Bernini sculptures in the collection, especially David – a far more engaging and memorable work than the other more famous one — and Pluto and Proserpina. Make a reservation and consider hiring a guide. It’s worth it.
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Incredible — thanks for posting this. Hard to believe that someone can make stone look so light that it’s fluttering in the breeze!