'Apollo and Daphne', John Lessore

Artwork details

Artist

John Lessore (born 1939)

Title

Apollo and Daphne

Date c.1985

MediumOil paint on canvas

Dimensionssupport: 914 x 610 mm

Collection

Tate

Acquisition Presented by the executors of the estate of David Wilkie 1993

Reference

T06693

Not on display

Display caption

This painting came about as the result of a commission from Wilkie for Lessore to make a version of 'Apollo and Daphne', the sculpture by the Renaissance master Bernini. Wilkie saw this work in the Borghese Gallery in Rome during an army posting there at the end of the Second World War. Lessore's sculpture stood in Wilkie's garden and followed the original in depicting the moment when Apollo embraces Daphne, who turns into a tree to escape him. The related painting came about because Lessore tried to persuade Wilkie to commission a painting rather than a sculpture. Wilkie would not change his mind but Lessore painted this version anyway, which he presented to him.

September 2004