Apollo Chasing Daphne, Stone statue in Tuileries Garden, Paris, France
Apollo Chasing Daphne is a stone statue in the Tuileries Garden that captures a moment of intense movement between two figures. The sculpture shows flowing garments and expressive gestures that convey the pursuit told in ancient mythology.
The sculptor Nicolas Coustou created this work during the Baroque period when mythological themes shaped French garden design and royal commissions. The statue emerged from the broader artistic movement that turned ancient stories into lasting stone sculptures.
The sculpture shows a story from Greek mythology where the god Apollo chases the nymph Daphne until she transforms into a laurel tree to save herself. Visitors often read this scene as a dramatic moment frozen in stone that speaks to themes of pursuit and transformation.
The statue sits near the south basin in the Tuileries and can be viewed year-round. The garden opens daily from early morning until sunset, so visitors experience changing light and seasons depending on when they arrive.
The sculpture displays fine details that become visible only upon close inspection, such as the different textures of skin and fabric carved into the stone. This handcrafted precision from the 18th century reveals the technical mastery of Coustou and influenced how other sculptors approached mythological subjects.
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