Studio per Daphne a Pavarolo

This “Study for Daphne in Pavarolo”, dated 1933-34, is faithful to the scheme of the final work. It presents a seated woman in the foreground, facing front, somewhat to the left-hand side of the painting.
The relaxation of the figure, which conveys a sense of repose and contemplative calm, is underscored by the convergence of her arms on the knees as she clasps her hands and by the upward gaze of her face.
All of the figure’s upper body, from her hands to her face, appears to be enclosed in an oval that suggest the mandorla aureole used in Eastern religions and found in some Christian images. The cool tones in which her clothing and surroundings are painted do not, however, chill the work’s emotional content.