Apollo e Dafne, Bernini, Galleria Borghese, Roma

All works will be signed on verso with an accompanying certificate stating title, edition number, date and signature.

Aurelio Amendola’s “Apollo e Dafne, Bernini, Galleria Borghese, Roma” captures the intricate beauty of Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s Baroque masterpiece which was created between 1622 and 1625. The sculpture depicts a scene from Ovid’s “Metamorphoses,” where the god Apollo, struck by Cupid’s arrow, falls in love with the nymph Daphne. As Apollo pursues her, Daphne prays to her father, a river god, for help, and he transforms her into a laurel tree to escape Apollo’s advances. The sculpture captures the dramatic moment of transformation, with Daphne’s fingers turning into branches and her body beginning to change into tree bark as Apollo reaches for her.

The sculpture is shown from the side, with Apollo in profile and Daphne with her back to the camera. The lighting in Amendola’s image masterfully highlights the detailed craftsmanship, bringing out the contours of Apollo’s torso, the delicate draped fabric that covers him, and the flowing hair of both figures. Particularly striking are Daphne’s hands, caught in the moment of transformation into tree branches, which exemplifies Bernini’s ability to convey motion and emotion in marble. Amendola’s photograph not only showcases the technical brilliance of the sculpture but also enhances its dramatic and mythological essence, offering viewers a fresh perspective on a timeless work of art.