El Greco: Laocoön (1610-1614)

(National Gallery of Art, Washington DC, USA)

A painting by the Greek artist Domenikos Theotokopoulos (1541-1614), better known as El Greco (the Greek). The painting shows a scene from Greek mythology, to be precisely from the Trojan War. According to story Laocoön was a Trojan priest of Poseidon who recognized the monumental wooden horse proffered by the enemy Greeks for what it was: a trick rather than a gift. Laocoön attempted to convince his fellow Trojans to destroy the horse but a Greek spy said the horse was a Greek gift to the gods to ensure a sage passage home. Angry, Laocoön struck the horse with a spear and said "Do not trust the Horse, Trojans / Whatever it is, I fear the Greeks even bearing gifts". The gods who supported the Greek side in the war punished Laocoön by sending giant sea serpents to kill the priest and his two sons which the painting shows. Interestingly the background doesn't show Troy but rather the Spanish city of Toledo with the wooden horse in the center. Who El Greco shows Toledo here and not Troy is a matter of debate: could be a reference to a local legend which states that the citizens of Toledo descended from the Trojans. It could also be a warning to the citizens of Toledo not to succumb to treachery. The people on the right are the gods Artemis, Apollo and an unfinished third person. Painting from 1610-1614.