Athlete Wrestling a Python

myminifactory

The painter Frederic Leighton was deeply enthralled with Italian art. His extensive studies in Frankfurt, Rome, and Paris profoundly informed him of the modern figure painting's dependence on copying Roman sculpture. His paintings from the 1870s bear a striking resemblance to classical sculptures, characterized by perfect nudes, precise outlines, and rhetorical poses. This work is one of his only two life-size sculptures, both created with the assistance of Thomas Brock. In subject matter and scale, it was clearly intended as a bold challenge to one of the greatest classical sculptures, "The Laocoön," depicting three men being mercilessly crushed by two massive sea serpents. This object is part of the "Scan The World" initiative. Scan The World is a non-profit program introduced by MyMiniFactory, through which we are creating a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from around the globe for public access at no cost. Scan The World is an open-source, community-driven effort. If you have interesting items nearby and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to learn how you can help.