Two Male Heads after the Antique, the Sons of Laocoön c. 1605

This red chalk drawing by Hendrick Goltzius, titled "Two Male Heads after the Antique, the Sons of Laocoön", is a study of the famous sculpture of Laocoön and his sons, created by the ancient Greek sculptors Agesander, Athenodoros, and Polydorus. The drawing depicts the two sons of Laocoön, who are shown in profile, their heads tilted upwards in a gesture of anguish. Goltzius was a master of drawing and engraving, and this study demonstrates his skill in capturing the anatomy and expression of the human figure. The artist’s use of cross-hatching to render the figures’ heads, and especially their hair, are a testament to his expertise. The Laocoön group was rediscovered in Rome in 1506 and became a model for artists throughout the Renaissance and Baroque periods, including Goltzius, who studied it intently. This drawing is a testament to the enduring impact of classical sculpture on Western art.