Why it matters
Bernini captures the climax of Ovid's story: as Apollo reaches the nymph Daphne, she begins to turn into a laurel tree, with leaves sprouting from her fingers. This life-sized marble, carved between 1622 and 1625, is regarded as one of the artistic marvels of the Baroque age.
Did you know?
- It was the last of the major works Cardinal Scipione Borghese commissioned from Bernini.
- Work was interrupted while Bernini carved his David (1623–24).
- His assistant Giuliano Finelli carved fine details such as the twigs, leaves and windswept hair.
Based on the Wikipedia article Apollo and Daphne (Bernini) (CC BY-SA 4.0).
