Antonio Pollaiuolo’s 15th century Italian masterpiece Apollo and Daphne explores this myth. It’s the classic tale of unrequited love, with a laurel-scented twist. Apollo was far too fond of dismissive Daphne. We can see him clinging to her here. It’s also clear that she’s changing under the weight of his embrace.

That’s because she asked her father, the river god, to turn her into a tree. This is her only escape from Apollo’s literal clutches. If you look just beyond Daphne to the right, you can see her father snaking his way to her. She will soon rest beside him, a lifelong contented spinster next to dear old Dad.

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