Forums

[Sexual Harassment Panda]

Originally posted by Atticus Grinch
The reference to Laocoön was a parable about poor methodology, Hank. The Laocoön Group was discovered in Rome in 1506, sans right arm. Rafael was appointed judge of a contest sponsored by the Pope to build a replacement arm. Rafael was swayed by those, including Bandinelli, who argued that Laocoön's moment of death must have been depicted in a heroic gesture of defiance against the god who commanded his death. In counterpoint, Michelangelo argued (correctly) that the missing arm was bent back over Laocoön's shoulder. He based his surmise on his study of classical sculpture and anatomy: the muscle flexion of the chest and back indicated a bent arm.

They found the arm 393 years after Michelangelo died (2,117 years, give or take, after the arm was first lost). It was in a builder's yard in Rome. And it was bent, as Michelangelo had predicted. Based on sound methodology and clear thinking uncluttered by prejudice and anachronistic motives. To see the Group restored with the proper arm is to wonder how generations of sculptors were ever convinced that the straight arm was correct.

And to think they said that art history major would never be any use to you!