Athlete Strangling a Python

The depiction of the struggle between a muscular male nude and a python derives from the story of Apollo and the Python of Delphi. Although the subject matter displays Leighton's knowledge of and respect for renaissance masters in particular Michelangelo, its execution shows the artist's preference for contemporary French sculpture. Leighton used sculpture to further explore the relationship of the figure in space that was such an important part of his representational paintings.