Apollo e Dafne
c. 1916
Sargent captures the frantic final moments of a classic mythological chase here, showing the god Apollo reaching out desperately just as the nymph Daphne transforms into a laurel tree to escape his advances. Painted around 1916, this piece reflects a period when the artist was tired of painting wealthy socialites—famously calling portrait work the 'pausing of the mug hunt'—and turned his attention to classical myths and large-scale decorative projects. The loose, energetic brushstrokes and the billowing yellow cloak create a sense of urgent movement, freezing the exact moment of magical metamorphosis.
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