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Greco-Roman Origin Myths

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Art Inquiry: Apollo Pursuing Daphne
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Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, Apollo Pursuing Daphne (about 1755/1760)
Have you heard of Cupid, the baby god of love? This painting shows what can happen when Cupid's arrows make love go wrong.

Learn more about this work of art by answering the multiple-choice questions below. Mouse over the image for clues!

1. Based on the scenery, what type of nymph is Daphne?

  1. Ocean
  2. Forest
  3. Sky
  4. Mountain

2. Why is Cupid hiding?

  1. He started a fight between Daphne and Peneus.
  2. He told Apollo a lie about Daphne.
  3. He hit Daphne with his arrow, causing Daphne to fall in love with Apollo, who does not love her back.
  4. He hit Apollo with his arrow, causing Apollo to fall in love with Daphne, who does not love him back.

3. What is Daphne doing at this moment?

  1. Asking to be turned into a tree
  2. Beginning her transformation into a tree
  3. Finishing turning into a tree
  4. Trying to squeeze into the water jug

4. Who is the old man leaning against the jug?

  1. Daphne’s father
  2. Cupid’s father
  3. Apollo’s father

5. Why does Apollo have a laurel wreath on his head?

  1. He is the king of laurel trees.
  2. He just won a race.
  3. It fits better than a regular hat.
  4. It refers to Daphne.

In case you’re wondering why these figures aren’t wearing clothes: Figures in art of characters from Greek and Roman myths are often partially-dressed or nude to resemble their original depictions in the literature and statuary of ancient times.

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Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, Apollo Pursuing Daphne, c. 1755/1760, oil on canvas, National Gallery of Art,
Samuel H. Kress Collection