Laocoons tragic tale has been retold by numerous Greek poets such as Apollodorus and Quintus Smyrnaeus.
The latter gave a detailed description of Laocoon’s grisly fate in his epic poemPosthomerica.
Laocoon and His Sons in Vatican Museums, Vatican City.
Historians believe that it is the same statue that was praised by Pliny inNatural History.
The head of the serpent is poised just over Laocoons hips ready to give him a fatal bite.
The right arm is bent behind his back, compressed by the coils of the same serpent.
To his right, is his younger son completely enwrapped by the coils of the second serpent.
Giuliano da Sangallo immediately identified the statues as the ones lauded by Pliny.
As with many archeological finds, theLaocoon and His Sonswasnt found intact.
But the most significant missing piece that would lead to much speculation was the priest’s right arm.
Italian painter and architect, Raphael, who was a distant relative of Bramante, favored an extended arm.
A version of Laocoon and His Sons with an outstretched arm.
Conflicting Visions of the Past in Early Modern Prints,Public Domain Review
