Why it matters
The Trojan priest Laocoön and his sons wrestle with serpents sent by the gods after he warned against the Trojan Horse. El Greco's elongated figures and emotional atmosphere deliberately break away from the balance of Renaissance art.
Did you know?
- It was painted between 1610 and 1614.
- It was inspired by the ancient sculpture Laocoön and His Sons, then recently discovered in Rome.
- Apollo and Artemis watch the scene from the right.
Based on the Wikipedia article Laocoön (El Greco) (CC BY-SA 4.0).
