In Greek mythology, the water nymph Clytie fell in love with the sun-god Helios. It is a story of unrequited love as Helios did not return her affections. Destined to watch his daily crossing over the sky with the rising sun, Clytie was transformed into a heliotrope flower.

In this sculpture, George Frederic Watts depicts the moment of her transformation, as leaves begin to creep around her shoulders.

George was fascinated by the mythological tale of Clytie. He returned to the theme many times between the late 1860s and 1880s.

He used a wide range of materials to create different sculptures of Clytie. The materials included bronze, marble, terracotta and chalk.

Adopted by Mr & Mrs J R Lester