Apollo Pursuing Daphne (section)

This lively scene captures one of mythology's most dramatic chases. The radiant figure on the right, glowing with a golden halo, is Apollo, the sun god. He reaches out toward Daphne, the nymph fleeing from him on the left. According to the ancient story, Apollo fell madly in love with Daphne after being struck by Cupid's arrow, but she wanted nothing to do with him. As he closed in, she begged her father, a river god, to save her. In answer, she began transforming into a laurel tree, which you can see hinted at in the branches sprouting from her hands.

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo painted this around 1755, and it shows off the airy, theatrical style of the Italian Rococo period. Notice the soft pastel colors, the swirling fabrics, and the sense of movement that runs through the whole composition. The bearded figure slumped at the bottom is Daphne's father, the river god Peneus, often shown with an overturned urn pouring water. Tiepolo was famous across Europe for his bright, graceful work, especially his grand ceiling frescoes, and here he brings a classic tale to life with energy and charm.