This is a bronze replica of Apollo and Daphne (1622-25), a baroque, life-sized marble sculpture by Italian Gian Lorenzo Bernini, housed in the Galleria Borghese in Rome. It was inspired by one of the stories included in Ovid Metamorphoses. In the story, Apollo, the god of prophecy, sees the young Eros, the god of love, playing with his bow and arrows and remarks, In avengement for this reproach, Eros wounds Apollo with a golden arrow, causing him to fall in love with the nymph daughter of the river god Peneus. Eros additionally wounds the beautiful nymph Daphne, with a lead arrow, thus ensuring she would not be wooed by Apollo advances. The arrow power was so strong that Daphne forthwith refused all of her lovers. Apollo, struck with the golden arrow of love, pleads with Daphne to fulfill his desire. Daphne begins to flee. Even as she runs, he is more captivated by her beauty. Apollo grows impatient and soon, sped by Eros, gains on her. With slower speed and failing strength, Daphne cries out to her father just as Apollo captures her. Not a moment later, Daphne skin turns to bark, her hair leaves, her arms branches, her feet roots, and her face a treetop. The sculpture was cast using the ancient method of lost-wax casting and stained with a brown patina finish for preservation and mounted upon a marble base. Bronze Dimensions with Marble Base: Height 15 X Width 8 inches. Weight: 16 LBS.

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