Artwork
Study of the Laocoön
Study of the Laocoön is a drawing by the Romanticist artist Filippo Agricola. It dates from 1800 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
This drawing is a study of the Laocoön statue, specifically based on Baccio Bandinelli's version in the Uffizi, Florence. It captures the intense scene of Laocoön and his two sons entwined by sea serpents.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing conveys the agony and struggle of Laocoön and his sons as they are constricted by serpents. The figures' facial expressions and tense muscles emphasize their distress and desperation.
Technique & Style
Executed with dark, rough lines, the drawing resembles a sketch. The artist employed cross-hatching techniques to build shadows, adding depth to the composition.
History & Provenance
Based on Baccio Bandinelli's Laocoön statue at the Uffizi, Florence, this drawing is an interpretation of an existing Renaissance work, though its exact creation date and artist are not specified here.
Context
The drawing reflects the Renaissance interest in classical antiquity, as evidenced by the reference to Bandinelli's sculpture, itself inspired by ancient Greek mythology.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Filippo Agricola spent decades hunched over a single marble torso, sketching the same contorted figure over and over.
