- Artist
- George Frederic Watts 1817–1904
- Medium
- Marble
- Dimensions
- Object: 711 × 610 × 381 mm
- Collection
- Tate
- Acquisition
- Presented by the executors of Francis Howard 1955
- Reference
- T00012
Display caption
The subject of this sculpture comes from Ovid’s Metamorphoses. Daphne, the daughter of a river-god, was pursued by the sun-god Apollo and only saved from his touch by being turned into a laurel tree.
In this marble bust laurel leaves surround her body, suggesting the transition from flesh to branches. The unfinished appearance of the work, with the marks of the claw-chisel still visible, reinforces the idea of transformation.
Gallery label, September 2004
Does this text contain inaccurate information or language that you feel we should improve or change? We would like to hear from you.
Explore
- emotions, concepts and ideas(16,416)
-
- universal concepts(6,387)
-
- transformation(186)
- female(1,681)
- classical myths: gods and heroes(606)
-
- Daphne(10)