Laocoon and his Sons 40 BC

What is happening in this sculpture? Why are the figures struggling? The ancient marble sculpture of ‘Laocoön and His Sons’ was discovered in a Roman vineyard in 1506. It is now believed to date back to the Julio-Claudian Dynasty, between 27 BC and 68 AD. Just imagine finding such a treasure beneath the soil! Unusually for ancient sculptures, the Laocoön group has survived in fairly good condition… aside from a lost arm. 💪 The sculpture depicts three life-sized figures. The central figure, standing at over six feet tall, is Laocoön: a Trojan priest who, according to Greek and Roman mythology, tried to expose the trick of the Trojan Horse. As a result he was brutally murdered by serpents, sent by the sea god Poseidon. Here, we see the vast snakes encircling Laocoön and his two teenage sons. The bodies of the men and snakes are entangled; a terrifying serpent emerged from behind Laocoön, and sinks its teeth into his hip. 🐍 The sculpture has been celebrated since the Renaissance for its high level of anatomical detail, as well as its visceral emotion. The limbs are contorted, their tense muscles building a sense of dynamism and movement. Zoom in to see Laocoön’s pained facial expression. His eyebrows are furrowed and his mouth is slightly open, as if he is trying to yell. We feel as though we are watching the figures writhing as they struggle to free themselves from the powerful grip of the serpents. Drama, tragedy, and energy are the overwhelming impressions of this piece. 🎭 What is the legacy of this classical sculpture? The most influential artists of the Renaissance, particularly Michelangelo, studied this work almost obsessively. We can certainly see elements of the Laocoön in the expressive bodies which characterise Michelangelo’s sculpture. 🦵 Editor: Lucy Jude Grantham