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A small Ivory group of the Laocoon and his sons. Italian 19th…
Sale Title:
Auction House:
Auction Location:
Melbourne
Date:
3-Jun-2008
Lot No.
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Description:
A small Ivory group of the Laocoon and his sons. Italian 19th century after the 1st Century Hellenistic original in the Vatican, Rome, depicting Athanadoros, Hagesandros and Polydoros of Rhodes. On black marble base. Ivory carving 20.5 cm high, base 19.5 x 8.5 x 11 cm. One of the major discoveries of the Italian Renaissance, this sculptural grouping was found in Rome in 1506 in the ruins of Titus' palace. It depicts an event in Vergil's Aeneid (Book 2). The Trojan priest Laocoön was strangled by sea snakes, sent by the gods who favored the Greeks, while he was sacrificing at the altar of Neptune. Because Laocoön had tried to warn the Trojan citizens of the danger of bringing in the wooden horse, he incurred the wrath of the gods.
Estimate:
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Price:
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Category:
Unclassified