Laocoöngroep in de Vaticaanse Musea c. 1860 - 1880

This is a photograph of the Laocoön group in the Vatican Museums, made by Giorgio Sommer in Italy, sometime in the mid-19th century. The photograph depicts a famous ancient sculpture of a Trojan priest and his sons being attacked by sea serpents. The sculpture itself was rediscovered in Rome in 1506, and it quickly became a major attraction for artists and intellectuals. Sommer's photograph captures the drama and emotion of the sculpture. It was created in a time when photography was beginning to change the way people saw the world, and Sommer was one of the photographers who helped to bring art and culture to a wider audience. By studying photographs like this, we can learn more about the history of art and the ways in which it has been interpreted and consumed over time. A deeper understanding can be gained by looking into archival materials of photographers, art critics, and museum collections. It allows us to understand the social and institutional contexts that shape artistic production and reception.