Daphnis and Chloe at The Louvre, Paris

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Daphnis and Chloe is the sole surviving work of Longus, a renowned Greek novelist and romancer from the 2nd century AD. The story revolves around two young protagonists, Daphnis and Chloe, who are left exposed at birth along with distinctive tokens that identify them. Lamon, a skilled goatherd, discovers Daphnis, while Dryas, a seasoned shepherd, finds Chloe. Each decides to raise the child they find as their own, and Daphnis and Chloe grow up together, tending to their respective flocks. As they mature, Daphnis and Chloe develop strong feelings for each other but are naive about what is happening to them. Philetas, a wise and experienced cowherd, takes it upon himself to explain the concept of love to the pair, informing them that the only remedy is kissing. They decide to follow his advice and share a kiss. However, Lycaenion, a sophisticated woman from the city, soon educates Daphnis on the finer points of lovemaking. Despite being equipped with this new knowledge, Daphnis chooses not to test it out on Chloe, as Lycaenion warns him that she will likely scream, cry, and bleed heavily. Throughout the novel, Chloe is pursued by several suitors, including Dorcon and Lampis, who attempt to abduct her with varying degrees of success. She is also kidnapped by raiders from a neighboring city but is eventually rescued by the intervention of Pan, the god of nature. Meanwhile, Daphnis faces numerous challenges, including falling into a pit, being beaten up, and being abducted by pirates, who nearly subject him to rape. Ultimately, Daphnis and Chloe are reunited with their birth parents and get married, living out their lives in the countryside. This marble sculpture, completed in 1827 and displayed at the Salon, was crafted by Jean-Pierre Cortot. Cortot chose to depict the moment when Daphnis plays a flageolet for Chloe.