The Metamorphoses by the Roman poet Ovid.

This tapestry depicts the classical mythological story of the pursuit of the nymph Daphne by the god Apollo, one of the most famous tales from the Metamorphoses by the Roman poet Ovid.

The Main Characters and the Story

• Apollo: The young man in the red cloak who is running is the god Apollo. He was struck by a golden arrow from Cupid, causing him to fall passionately in love with Daphne.
• Daphne: The fleeing woman is the nymph Daphne. She was struck by a leaden arrow, which repels love, and therefore desperately tried to escape from the god.
• The Goddess in the Chariot: The figure in the sky in a chariot drawn by deer (or hinds) is probably Diana (Artemis), the goddess of the hunt and chastity. She was Daphne’s protectress and in this story symbolizes the chastity Daphne seeks to preserve.

The Moment of Transformation

The tapestry shows the dramatic climax of the story: just as Apollo is about to catch her, Daphne begs her father (the river god Peneus) for help. At that moment, her body begins to transform into a laurel tree. In the tapestry, this process is often already visible in her hands or feet, which begin to turn into branches or roots.

Background of the Artwork

This type of tapestry was often part of a larger series depicting scenes from Ovid’s Metamorphoses. They were produced in the 17th and 18th centuries in renowned workshops such as those in Brussels or Aubusson, and were displayed in the palaces and castles of the nobility as symbols of wealth and learning.

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