A Netherlandish marble relief from the story of Apollo and Daphne mid 17th century

within iron frame

Surface weathered with abrasions chips, and scratches throughout. Dirt and discoloration including rust stains. Small flecks of white paint. Losses to fingers and toes including proper right hand of Apollo, middle finger of river god's proper right hand at Daphne's waist, proper left forefinger of river god and top of staff, Daphne's proper left big toe. Residue at top left corner. Wear and rust to later iron frame.
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The robust figure style and dense composition seen here must have been inspired by the carvings  of Dutch sculptors working in the middle of the 17^th century such as Artus Quellinus, whose workshop produced a series of marble reliefs for the town hall of Amsterdam from the 1650's, and Gerard van Opstal who produced multi-figured reliefs with frenzied movement. Rombout Verhulst, who worked with Quellinus, produced several garden statues, including figures of Prudence and Destiny circa 1660-65, now in the Rijksmuseum (J. Leeuwenberg and W. Halsema Kubes, op. cit., figs. 317 a and b) with substantial proportions and smooth, round facial types.

According to Ovid, the nymph Daphne, daughter of the rivergod Peneus, was one of Apollo's loves. Struck by Cupid's bow, Apollo pursued her . When she had no more strength to escape, she asked her father to save her. The theme symbolizes the victory of Chastity over Love.

RELATED LITERATURE

K. Fremantle, The Baroque Town Hall of Amsterdam, Utrecht, 1959
J. Leeuwenberg and W. Halsema Kubes, Beeldhouwkunst in het Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, 1973, pp. 234-42