Laocoon and His Sons - 919 Words

This essay is an attempt to address the marble sculpture commonly known as Laocoon and His Sons, and why exactly I believe it to be a work of high art, of great value and significance to the species. Laocoon and His Sons is a marble sculpture representing a scene that is a part of the tale of the siege and invasion of Troy. Laocoon was the protagonist in a play by Sophocles that is now lost. He was also written about by Virgil. The statue itself is one of the most famous sculptures of Greek and Roman antiquity, its subject is Laocoà ¶n, a Trojan high priest, who, along with his two sons, is – according to legend - attacked and killed by two snakes, or sea serpents. The tale is known as myth, but its content may have symbolic roots in actual†¦show more content†¦History is hearsay. We can’t be sure. One of the pieces defining characteristics, what makes it such a marvel, is how the physique is anatomically perfect. This speaks of a highly developed culture, with an intricate understanding of anatomy and physiology. But, also of a culture that privileges physical strength and beauty. The Greeks of the time were either artists or warriors, or often both, so strength and beauty were central in their world. Laocoon and His Sons is a much more naturalistic piece than earlier Greek works; in which the figures were often idolized; lacking luster, life, emotion, humanity. Cleobis and Biton, a set of sculptures from the Archaic Period, exemplify this quite well; posing, rigid, golem like figures; lacking the humanity they are supposed to represent. The Hellenistic baroque style of Laocoon and His Sons gives us a much more true-to-life representation in comparison to earlier works. This work has inspired artists and regular humans alike down through the centuries, one of whom it is partic ularly well known to have influenced greatly was Michelangelo; as can be seen in some of his pieces; e.g: The rebellious Slave. I summation, I think this piece is truly of note to art historians. Above, I have highlighted some reasons I think this is the case. Bibliography: Virgil, (reprint) 2003. The Aeneid. London: Penguin Classics. Pollitt, J. J. 2006. Art in the Hellenistic Age. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 5 Pliny,Show MoreRelated Polykleitos’ Bearer and Laocoon and His Sons Essay1812 Words   |  8 PagesPolykleitos’ Bearer and Laocoon and His Sons Polykleitos’ is a Roman statue. It is made out of marble and it is 6 feet 6 inches tall. The statue is of a male who looks to be athletic someone who works out. The statue is standing in a contrapuntal position; it has its left leg slightly bent witch causes his foot not to be flat on the platform under him. That position helps the statue stay balance. It is not rigid. The statue has no facial expression. It is serious. It eyes are deep andRead MoreAnalysis of The Famous Sculpture, Laocoà ¶n and his Two Sons Essay examples1786 Words   |  8 PagesThe piece I decided to analyze is the famous sculpture, Laocoà ¶n and his two sons. I decided on this particular piece for a few reasons, one being the emotion we see on the subjects’ faces, and the other being the importance for future art. When I began this research I could not have possibly understood the relevance this piece had on the art that was yet to come. The Hellenistic period of Greek art spans from the time of Alexander the Great’s death in 323 to 30 B.C.E. (â€Å"Hellenistic Period† 1)Read MoreThe Classical And Hellenistic Period1098 Words   |  5 PagesDionysus. â€Å"Zeus gave Dionysus to Hermes to protect the baby from Zeus wife, who was jealous† because Zeus was unfaithful to his wife Hera with Dionysus’s mother, Semele (Bergman). Hermes, the messenger of the Greek gods, is sculpted leaning against what appears to be a tree covered in draping. His right arm, that is broken, reaches upwards as if he is holding something. His left arm, holds a small child, Dionysus, who reaches towards something that Hermes may have been holding. Dionysus is the godRead MoreExamples Of Heroes Of Beowulf1503 Words   |  7 Pagesbe a descendent from Cain, son of Adam and Eve, who murdered his brother Abel. The author writes, â€Å"†¦his [Grendel] glee was demonic†¦before morning he would rip the life fr om limb and devour them [Danes warriors], feed on their flesh..,† which gives a clear depiction of how gory it was when Grendel struck the hall at night (Heaney, 49). Beowulf exhibits the characteristics of bravery and courage when he first arrives at the mead hall to meet King Hrothgar; by expressing his desires to fight off GrendelRead MoreSummary Of The Snake In Book Two Of The Aeneids1373 Words   |  6 Pagessnake attacks from hiding, as did the Greeks from the â€Å"womb† of the Trojan horse. Subsequently, brutality as an attribute of the snake is imposed on the scholars consciousness in Book Two of The Aeneid through the account of the destiny of Laocoon and his two sons. Hence, the snake is an appropriate analogy for the fundamental character of the Greek invaders (brutality), their preferred means (ambush), and their ultimate instrument of destruction (flame). But the snake is an ambivalent image. ApartRead MoreLaocoon’s Children and the Limits of Repre sentation Essay examples1228 Words   |  5 Pagesrendering of children in art forms during Hellenistic times. This idea is then divided into different sub-categories: Laocoon group depiction of children, the different versions of children, and the viewer’s interaction to the role of children in Greek and Roman mythology. With respect to the first sub-category that is listed, the sculpture of the struggle of Laocoon and his Sons is used to underscore the ideals connected with children. It is in the sculpture that we see Laocoon’s son’s depictedRead MoreThe Laocoon Group1229 Words   |  5 PagesThe Laocoon Group from page 96 in our text (Fig. 3.30). This statue depicts a scene from Virgil s Aeneid. The scene takes place shortly after attempting to warn the Trojan s not to bring the horse into the city, Laocoon goes to the altar of Poseidon with his sons to make a sacrifice when all three are attacked and killed by two sea serpents sent by the gods. Thi s was because of the warning and it is even mentioned that is specifically for throwing his spear at the horse and piercing it. Read MoreLaocoons Influence on Renaissance Artists2087 Words   |  9 PagesThe desire and urge to establish stronger connections with the classical past brought about the search and discovery of many ancient manuscripts and artworks. One of the most celebrated discoveries occurred during the height of the Renaissance: The Laocoon. Perhaps one of the world’s most famous Hellenistic sculptures, it was originally located in the palace of Titus. It was then lost for over a thousand years before its rediscovery in 1506. Pope Julius II immediately acquired it, and displayed it inRead MoreCompare/Contrast 2 Ancient Sculptures782 Words   |  4 Pagesleft). This statue represents an eternal existence reflected in its emotionless calm and enduring serenity. In this statue Menkure and His Chief Queen from the Old Kingdom’s 4th Dynasty are depicted; it is thought to have originally stood on the processional causeway leading to Menkure’s pyramid at Giza. However, the statue was discovered buried with him inside his tomb. â€Å"It is believed to have been the first double statue of its kind made.†This sculpture shares all of the conventional qualities commonRead MoreEl Greco : The Greatest Spanish Painter Of The Era2129 Words   |  9 Pagesspent approximately half of his life traveling and apprenticing in Italy. El Greco had traveled to Rome, where he was influenced by the Florentine and Roman Mannerism techniques. As El Greco traveled through Italy he worked alongside the famous artist Titian in his studio in Venice. Other artists El Greco worked under include Tintoretto, Jacopo Bassano, and Veronese. El Greco’s exploration of art through Europe finally brought him to the most influential location of his career, Toledo in 1577. In