Laocoon and his Sons by Peter Paul Rubens

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by Tom Gurney
Tom Gurney BSc (Hons) is an art history expert with over 20 years experience
Published on June 19, 2020 / Updated on October 14, 2023
Email: [email protected] / Phone: +44 7429 011000

Peter Paul Rubens produced several sketches of Laocoon and his sons, with one of his finest featured here

Rubens here demonstates all of his qualities as a figurative draughtsman.

There was also a related title called Study for the Laocoön Group, which can now be found at the Wallraf Richartz Museum and is loosely dated at 1604-1608. As a general rule, Rubens' drawings have proven very difficult to attribute accurate dates. In a similar way to Sandro Botticelli's drawings, there was simply no documentation available on these study pieces which were never intended to reach the public.

Laocoön Group was produced from black chalk on vergé paper and it is likely that the artwork we find here was produced in the same way. Rubens here continues the inclusion of powerful stomach muscles in a display of beautiful masculinity which most remember Michelangelo for bringing to the artistic table.

Article Author

Tom Gurney in an art history expert. He received a BSc (Hons) degree from Salford University, UK, and has also studied famous artists and art movements for over 20 years. Tom has also published a number of books related to art history and continues to contribute to a number of different art websites. You can read more on Tom Gurney here.