STAIR
Live Auction

The Fine Sale

Sat, Jun 22, 2019 11:00AM EDT
Lot 28

Prof. J. Chiurazzi, (active c. 1870): The Laocoön and His Sons

Estimate: $2,000 - $4,000
Sold for

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $25
$200 $50
$500 $100
$3,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$30,000 $2,500
$100,000 $5,000

Bronze, signed 'Chiurazzi Napoli' underneath.

26 1/4 x 21 x 9 in.

Note: The Fonderia Chiurazzi was established in Naples Italy in 1870. It was one of the leading makers of replicas of ancient works. The foundry assembled one of the richest collections of molds, which to this day remains a valuable historical record. A Chiurazzi replica of the Laocoön group greets visitors at the Museo metro stop in Naples, Italy today.

The original model of the Laocoön and his sons was carved in marble, of life size scale and is located in the Vatican Museum in Rome. It was excavated in 1506 on the Esquiline Hill in Rome. It was identified as the Laocoön described by Pliny the Elder as a masterpiece of the sculptors of Rhodes. The story is that during the Trojan War, Laocoön, a priest of Apollo in the city of Troy, warned his fellow Trojans against taking in the wooden horse left by the Greeks outside the city gates. Athena and Poseidon, who were favoring the Greeks, sent to great sea serpents which have wrapped their coils around Laocoön and his two sons and are strangling them. From the Roman point of view, the death of these innocents was crucial to the decision of Aeneas, who heeded Laocoön's warning, to flee Troy, and this lead to the eventual founding of Rome. Such an important sculpture could not escape the notice of Pope Julius II (1503-1513) who bought it immediately and had it displayed in the main Statues Courtyard in the Vatican, making it the center piece of the collection. There has been much debate over the date of the marble statue, which would seem to have been made around 40-30 B.C.

Condition

Good overall condition with uneven surface wear, scuffing and general wear. Nicely cast. Not withstanding this report or any discussion concerning condition of a lot, all lots are offered and sold "as is" in accordance with our conditions of sale.