Clytie

Luigi Fabrucci c.1859 - 1903

Summary

Clytie, a nymph deserted by her lover Apollo, pined away and was changed into a sunflower. She is represented here as gazing back at the sun and half transformed into the sunflower, its calyx forming part of the pedestal. White marble, bust-length figure of a female nude with a grouping of petals around her torso from which she emerges. She turns her head, straining to look over her right shoulder, causing her rather masculine neck and shoulder muscles to come under tension. Her wavy, tousled hair is gathered at the back of her head. The work stands on a circular, spreading base.