Lot 79: George Spencer Watson, R.A., R.W.S., R.O.I. (1869-1934)

George Spencer Watson, R.A., R.W.S., R.O.I. (1869-1934)
Apollo and Daphne
inscribed 'Sketch for Apollo & Daphne' (on the stretcher)
oil on canvas
28 x 36 in. (71.2 x 91.5 cm.)

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Apollo, the god of music and the sun, taunted Eros, the god of love for playing with bows and arrows, citing his own heroic exploits in comparison with those of Eros who he accused of treating them as though they were merely play things. In retaliation, Eros shot two arrows; one of gold at Apollo to inspire love and adoration, and one of lead at Daphne, the beautiful wood nymph, to inspire hatred and loathing. Overcome with love, Apollo pursued Daphne, who hating him, spurned his advances and fled from him. The amourous god continued to follow her until, in desperation she appealed to her father Peneus, the river god, who turned her into a bay laurel tree. Despite the fact that even as a tree Daphne continued to recoil from him, Apollo vowed to tend to her branches, ensuring that she was evergreen and ordaining that her leaves would be turned into crowns to decorate the heads of leaders. Through his unsuccessful pursuit of Daphne, the bay laurel became one of the symbols of Apollo. At the Pythian Games, held in his honour in Ancient Greece, a wreath of laurels would be handed to the most successful competitor.