Lucy Boltz- El Greco Laocoon

El Greco made this at the end of his life in 1610-1614. It depicts the Greek tale of Laocoon. Laocoon was a priest of Poseidon who advised his people not to accept the wooden horse from the Greeks. In the legend, Laocoon and his sons are killed by snakes sent by Minerva. This motif became popular after the discovery of a Hellenistic Bronze Statue of the same subject in Rome in early 1600's.