Apollo and Daphne

        In Polytheistic religions, there are many different gods who serve specific functions in their cultures. For example, the Greeks had their twelve gods on mount Olympus.^[1] Most of our knowledge of these gods come from stories that have been passed down through the ages, or by works of art that have been left behind. Through the analysis of art, we can learn about the culture beliefs of these religions and how they influenced many artists. Polytheism in art will be analyzed through the painting Apollo and Daphne by Paolo Veronese.

        Apollo and Daphne was viewed at the San Diego Museum of Art. The exhibit it was in was dedicated to European art, particularly during the Italian Renaissance. The room it was displayed in was very well lit and spacious. The red walls with golden frames provided a beautiful viewing space that contrasted with many of the artworks. The focused artwork was surrounding to the left and right respectively by Portrait of a Venetian by Tintoretto, and Portrait of a man by Giorgione. Portrait of a Venetian is an Italian Renaissance painting from 1550. Portrait of a Man was also an Italian Renaissance painting from 1505.^[2] These two pieces were very dark in color, which contrasted nicely with the warmer tones of Apollo and Daphne. I chose Apollo and Daphne by Veronese because it stood out to me as soon as I saw it. The composition really caught my eye, as well as its contrast in size and color to the other pieces in the room.

        When analyzing a work of art, it is important to know all of the factors that contribute to the way something was created. There are many paintings that can draw people in with its aesthetic appeal, but a work of art is much deeper than just how pretty it looks. Apollo and Daphne can be understood and appreciated more when the viewer knows the tale behind the art. As the story goes, Apollo was once shot by cupid, who are both archers, with an arrow tipped in gold. Cupid also shot a nymph named Daphne with an arrow tipped in lead. The golden arrow was used to incite love, while the lead tipped arrow was used to incite hatred. When Apollo first laid eyes upon Daphne, he could not help but fall deeply in love with her. On the other hand, Daphne could not stand Apollo and fled from him. As their pursuit continued, Apollo kept gaining on Daphne. Daphne, who was more in love with adventure and the forest, called upon her father Peneus, a river god, to save her.^[3] Once she called upon her father for help, Daphne began to turn into a Laurel tree. Apollo looked in despair as his love transformed before his very eyes. The feelings and power of this story transferred to the canvas in a beautiful manner.

        Apollo and Daphne was painted between 1560 and 1565 by Italian Renaissance painter Paolo Veronese in his home nation of Italy.^[4] It was painted with oil on canvas and is roughly 43 inches by 44 inches. In the painting, you can see Apollo standing next to Daphne, both draped in pink clothing. They stand among different kinds of trees surrounding them with an orange sky in the background. Apollo stands with one hand open-palm extended outward with his other hand grabbing Daphne at the hip. Daphne stands with her arms extended toward the sky. Apollo gazes with a look of despair as Daphne's hands reach out transforming into branches with each individual finger resembling smaller limbs with leaves protruding from them. Her feet also begin to sink into the Earth while twisting into roots to fasten her to the ground.

        Apollo and Daphne would made a suitable addition to any scholarly art textbook. One piece from our textbook, Exploring Art: A Global Thematic Approach, that would make a good comparison is the bronze sculpture Zeus or Poseidon created in Greece somewhere between 460 and 450 BCE. In most cases, Polytheism in art is a way to pay respects to a god or show their greatness. This figure, standing at 6 foot 10 inches, is a powerful depiction of a Polytheistic god. “Zeus, chief among the Greek gods, is usually shown as a mature bearded male with an ideal, godlike physique”.^[5] This sculpture depicts Zeus, God of lightning and the heavens, or Poseidon, God of the sea, as a very powerful and idealized being. He is a flawless image of perfection to the Greeks who worshiped these gods. Apollo and Daphne would make a suitable addition for its contrast with how the Greeks are typically depicted. In most art, gods are shown in a way that depict perfection. In this work of art, Apollo, the god of the sun, has shown imperfection by being able to be tricked by cupid. He is shown with the typical physique that you would expect from a god, but when you look at his face you see a human quality as he is showing fear for losing his love interest. His pursuit after Daphne is more human-like than godlike in my opinion.