Italian school of the Grand Tour of the 18th-19th century

Italian school of the Grand Tour of the 18th-19th century.
"Laocoon and his sons".
Bronze.
Measurements: 21,5 x 18 x 8 cm; 8 x 20,5 x 9 cm (marble base).

The "Laocoon and his sons" is one of the most famous sculptures of the Christian era since it was found in Rome in 1506. It is slightly larger than life size, 2.42 m high and is executed in white marble. It represents the death of the Trojan priest Laocoon, punished by the gods to die strangled by sea serpents along with his two sons, Antiphantus and Timbreus.

The term "Grand Tour", which appeared for the first time in the work "El Voyage d'Italie" by Richard Lassels, was used to define the long journey through Europe, especially Italy, which was usually undertaken by young British aristocrats from the 17th century onwards, but especially throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. The purpose of the trip was for young people to become acquainted with the art and culture of France and Italy, to admire classical art at first hand, to learn or improve their knowledge of languages, and to establish contacts and relationships with the cultural and political elites of these countries. Travelers were often looking for pieces with which to start their own art collections, objects to take back to their places of residence as souvenirs. For this reason, workshops specialized in the replica of Roman pieces, both in bronze and marble, emerged, some of which acquired a great reputation.