Daphne 1853 - 1854

Harriet Hosmer, an American sculptor, created this marble bust of Daphne sometime in the mid-19th century. The subject is taken from Greek mythology. Daphne, a nymph, is transformed into a laurel tree to escape the amorous god Apollo. Hosmer’s treatment of Daphne, frozen mid-metamorphosis, speaks to the social constraints placed on women during this era. The sculpture was made during a time when women were expected to conform to rigid gender roles, particularly in the arts. Hosmer challenged those structures by becoming a successful sculptor in a male-dominated field. Many female artists went to Italy as a way of accessing the means to develop their practices. Hosmer lived and worked in Rome for much of her career, where she enjoyed a more liberated lifestyle than was possible for women artists in the United States. To better understand Hosmer's work, one might explore feminist art history and studies of expatriate artists. These resources could shed light on the social dynamics that shaped her artistic vision and career.