The Italian Artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini: Apollo And Daphne
The work I chose is Apollo and Daphne by Italian artist Bernini
After you have selected your work of art, research it. This does not have to be high-octane research, but you must still cite all your sources and submit a works cited page with your short essay. That is, this time it's okay to use Wikipedia; however, you must cite Wikipedia. In any case, you'll want to find out about your artwork's context: the artist, the artist's history, the country of origin, the subject of the piece, the “argument” of the piece, the style and/or artistic movement (Impressionist? Dadaism? Baroque? Cubist? Rococo?), the piece's reception (Did it spark controversy? If so, why? Was it celebrated? If so, why?), influences, political ramifications, etc.
In this pre-writing assignment, sketch out the cultural/social/political/etc. context(s) surrounding your work of art.
Submission Guidelines
Two pages, double-spaced, Times New Roman, 1” margins, MLA formatting
Is a check information to write an introduction essay. Perhaps is very simple but must pay attention to the MLA format. Throughout are laid out in your own words and be careful to sketch out the cultural/social/here/etc. the context (s).
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Apollo and Daphne
Apollo and Daphne is marble sculpture that was created by the Italian artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini. The sculpture was executed around 1622 to 1624 (Acton 47). Bernini is an Italian sculptor and architect who was largely credited for creating the Baroque style of sculpture. Apollo and Daphne is a work that portrays the climax of a mythical story titled “Daphine and Phoebus” in Ovid’s the Metamorphoses. The sculpture tries to explain the futility of romance that occurred between Apollo and Daphne (Acton 47). From the story, Apollo became deeply in love with Daphne when he is struck by the Eros’ arrows of love. However, Daphne is struck by an arrow that rejects the love of the god Apollo. Bernini depicts the sculpture from where Apollo is chasing Daphne and when Daphne cries to her father for help and he transforms her into a tree. The sculpture captures the beginning of this metamorphosis as Daphne slowly begins to turn into a laurel tree (Acton 47).
Bernini developed a theatrical performance where by the viewer’s eyes follow the development of the transformation. After running, Apollo manages to reach his beloved Daphne but as he touches her, her feet have already become roots and her hands and hair are becoming a single leafy branch. Apollo tries to grab her, but his fingers only graze the bark of the tree and not her body. Apollo look expresses longing, as both of them appear to be moving mid-chase while the transformation signals the tragic end of the tale (Harris 90). Bernini’s sculpture is an illustration of immense intensity that gives an example of expressing values. Bernini manages to give the sculpture a classic beauty to the natural shapes of the b...