Apollo and Daphne 

Giulio Romano made this pen and ink drawing of Apollo and Daphne in Italy sometime in the first half of the 16th century. It depicts a story from classical mythology, yet its revival here speaks to the social and cultural context of Renaissance Italy. The image shows the god Apollo reaching for the nymph Daphne as she transforms into a laurel tree to escape him. Consider that Romano was a prominent artist in the circle of Raphael and later worked for the Gonzaga court in Mantua. Figures from classical mythology were often used to legitimize and glorify the power of ruling families such as the Gonzaga. The story of Apollo and Daphne then becomes less about personal drama and more about the nature of power, desire, and transformation. It would be interesting to research this image in the context of the Gonzaga court’s artistic patronage and its engagement with classical themes. It highlights how art is deeply embedded in its social and institutional context.