Daphnis giving an Apple to Chloe
Antonio Zucchi, RA (Venice 1726 – Rome 1796)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
circa 1776
Materials
Oil on canvas (circular)
Measurements
1010 mm (Diameter)
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Nostell Priory, West Yorkshire (Accredited Museum)
NT 960064.3
Summary
Oil painting on canvas (circular), Daphnis giving an Apple to Chloe, by Antonio Zucchi, RA (Venice 1726 – Rome 1796), circa 1776. One of a set of four circular overdoor paintings with scenes from the story of Daphnis and Chloe by the Greek author Longus. In this painting, Zucchi represents the scenes from Book III.33-34 of Longus' narrative. Here, Longus tells us of an apple tree that was bare except for one, beautiful apple, perched right at the top of the tree. Daphnis plucks this apple and gives it to Chloe, comparing his gift to the apple that was given to the goddess Venus by Paris in Greek mythology.
Provenance
Commissioned from Antonio Zucchi by Sir Rowland Winn, 5th Bt. (1739-1785) and sent to Nostell Priory in 1776; thence by descent; accepted in lieu of tax by H M Treasury and transferred to the National Trust in 1986.
Credit line
Nostell Priory, The St Oswald Collection (National Trust)
Makers and roles
Antonio Zucchi, RA (Venice 1726 – Rome 1796), artist
References
Longus, Daphnis and Chloe, translated by George Thornley, revised edition, J. M. Edmonds, London, 1916, Book III.33-34 Sands 2011: Frances Sands, 'The Art of Collaboration: Antonio Zucchi at Nostell Priory', The Georgian Group Journal, vol.XIX, 2011, pp.106-119