Apollo and Daphne - Early 17th century

Apollo and Daphne Period: Early 17th century Attribution: Flemish painter active in Rome Technique: Oil on copper Frame: Wooden frame with tortoise shell effect Description: This 17th-century work depicts the famous mythological scene of Apollo and Daphne, a classic subject taken from Ovid's "Metamorphoses." The painter, of the Flemish school, shows great mastery of the oil-on-copper technique, a support that allows for greater brilliance and precision in detail. The scene is set in a lush landscape, with a backdrop of mountains and a clear sky in which an angelic figure stands out in flight, probably Mercury or another deity watching the event from above. At the center of the composition unfolds the key episode: Apollo, god of the sun and the arts, is depicted in the act of chasing Daphne, the nymph of the woods, caught in the moment of transformation into laurel. Daphne's body begins to merge with the tree, with branches and leaves emerging from her fingers and body, in an elegant and harmonious movement. Apollo, with his cloak fluttering and the lyre still visible beside him, seems astonished and desperate for the ongoing metamorphosis. The landscape is represented with meticulousness typical of Flemish painters, characterized by a luxuriant nature and a watercourse, in which a river figure sits, probably symbolizing a river god. The details of the leaves, the water, and the figures are executed with great care and refinement. Measurements: 25 x 35 cm (frame excluded)