Study for "Apollo and Daphne"
1918
charcoal
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1918
charcoal
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Study for "Apollo and Daphne" is a 1918 charcoal by John Singer Sargent, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a nude figure from behind, balanced on tiptoes with arms raised. It’s just charcoal on paper, but the lines feel alive—like the body is both real and about to slip away. Sargent used quick, light strokes to suggest movement without filling in details. The pose hints at the Greek myth where Apollo chases Daphne. She turns into a tree to escape him, and Sargent captured that fleeting, desperate moment. You can almost feel the tension in the raised arms. If you like this, check out Sargent, John Singer for more of his dramatic figure studies.
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