Dafne la Grande

In botany, Daphne is the laurel and takes its name from the nymph who, according to Greek mythology, preferred to transform into a plant rather than yield to an unwanted love. Carlo Zoli sculpts this heroic figure, giving her a confident and serene gaze, at peace with herself and aware of her choice. The artist’s skill honours Daphne, wrapping her slender body in a soft vegetal envelope made of sinuous branches and large leaves, finished with iridescent patinas. These shoots replace her limbs but also protect her like a cocoon, embracing her like a mother. The nymph, a lover of her inner freedom, chose the immobility of the tree, and by refusing to succumb to male will, she becomes a symbol of great feminine strength, determination, and sanctity. Even the god Apollo eventually accepts her eternal chastity and pays tribute to her by creating a crown from her branches, the universal symbol for him and for all poets and musicians.