Laocoön
Laocoön
Laocoön
Laocoön

On view

European Art
Duane Wilder Gallery

Laocoön,

16th–17th century

Artist unidentified
Italian
y1968-118

The 1506 rediscovery of the ancient sculptural group Laocoön in a Roman vineyard caused a sensation. Depicting a Trojan priest and his sons strangled by serpents sent by the gods, the sculpture had been lavishly praised by the ancient author Pliny the Elder (23/24–79 CE) in his Natural History. Following its excavation, Pope Julius II (r. 1503–13) acquired and exhibited the Laocoön in the Vatican, where it still stands today. Revered for its intensity of emotional expression, the Laocoön became one of the most studied works of ancient art. It was copied countless times in a wide range of media, including this smaller-scale terracotta sculpture.

Information

Title
Laocoön
Dates

16th–17th century

Maker
Artist unidentified
Medium
Terracotta
Dimensions
68 × 49 × 28 cm (26 3/4 × 19 5/16 × 11 in.) plinth: 37.2 x 20.5 cm (14 5/8 x 8 1/16 in.)
Credit Line
Museum purchase, gift of Elias Wolf, Class of 1920, and Mrs. Wolf
Object Number
y1968-118
Place Made

Europe, Italy

Culture
Italian
Type
sculpture
Materials
terracotta
Subject
nudes, men, Greek mythology, Roman mythology, snakes, suffering, figures (representations)

Coll. Ludwig Pollak, Rome, probably after 1914.

Adolph Loewy, Los Angeles.

Purchased by the Museum from the above with the gift of Elias ‘20 and Frances Ehrlich Wolf.

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The Museum regularly researches its objects and their collecting histories, updating its records to reflect new information. We also strive to catalogue works of art using language that is consistent with how people, subjects, artists, and cultures describe themselves. As this effort is ongoing, the Museum’s records may be incomplete or contain terms that are no longer acceptable. We welcome your feedback, questions, and additional information that you feel may be useful to us. Email us at collectionsinfo@princeton.edu.

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