Daphne Chased by Apollo

Nicolas Coustou's sculpture depicts Apollo chasing Daphne and stands south of the rectangular basin in the Tuileries Garden in Paris. The stone work captures an ancient mythological scene with expressive figures and detailed carving.

The work was created in 1714 for the Chateau de Marly, then moved to the Tuileries Garden in 1797 following the French Revolution. This relocation reflected the transformation of royal estates after the political upheaval.

The sculpture tells the Greek mythological story where Daphne transforms into a laurel tree to escape Apollo's pursuit. Visitors walking through the garden can observe how this moment of transformation is frozen in stone.

The sculpture is located in a public garden that is open daily to visitors. You can find it while walking through the garden grounds without special arrangements.

What visitors see today is a cast of the original marble work, which has been preserved in the Louvre Museum since 1940. The original was moved indoors for protection, while the carefully made copy remains in the garden.

Location: 1st arrondissement of Paris

Creator: Nicolas Coustou

Made from material: stone

GPS coordinates: 48.86300,2.32760

Latest update: December 15, 2025 13:30