Athlete Wrestling a Python

youmagine

The renowned painter Frederic Leighton had a profound affinity for Italian art. His in-depth study in Frankfurt, Rome, and Paris made him acutely aware that modern figure painting relied heavily on emulating Roman sculpture. His paintings from the 1870s closely resemble classical sculptures, characterized by flawless nudes, razor-sharp outlines, and deliberate poses. This piece is one of his two life-size sculptures, both crafted with the collaboration of Thomas Brock. Its subject matter and scale are a direct challenge to the iconic Laocoön, depicting three men being mercilessly crushed by two mighty sea serpents.