Bernini's Apollo and Daphne: A Baroque Masterpiece of Transformation
Gian Lorenzo Bernini's marble sculpture 'Apollo and Daphne' (1622–1625) at Galleria Borghese in Rome captures the climactic moment from Ovid's 'Metamorphoses' where the nymph Daphne transforms into a laurel tree to escape Apollo. Bernini, born in Naples in 1598, pioneered Baroque techniques that imbued marble with movement and emotion. The life-size work shows Apollo grasping Daphne as bark envelops her body, with polished and rough surfaces symbolizing her metamorphosis. The sculpture explores themes of unrequited love, desire, and change, remaining a highlight of the Galleria Borghese's collection.
Key facts
- Gian Lorenzo Bernini created Apollo and Daphne between 1622 and 1625.
- The sculpture is housed at Galleria Borghese in Rome, Italy.
- It depicts the myth from Ovid's Metamorphoses where Daphne turns into a laurel tree.
- Bernini was born in Naples in 1598 and was a key figure of the Baroque era.
- The work uses a non finito technique with both polished and rough marble surfaces.
- Apollo and Daphne is life-size and captures the moment of transformation.
- The laurel leaves symbolize immortality in ancient Roman metaphor.
- Bernini's sculpture is considered a masterpiece of Baroque art.
Entities
Artists
- Gian Lorenzo Bernini
- Publius Ovidius Naso
- Giovanni Battista Tiepolo
- Steven Zucker
Institutions
- Galleria Borghese
- National Gallery of Art
- Smart History
- Flickr
Locations
- Rome
- Italy
- Naples
- Washington, DC
- USA