Study for Head of Laocoon n.d.

Andrea Appiani's "Study for Head of Laocoon" is a red chalk drawing housed at the Art Institute of Chicago. The drawing, likely made as a study for a larger work, depicts the head of the Trojan priest Laocoon, whose tragic story is famously depicted in the Hellenistic sculpture of the same name. Appiani's drawing captures the intense emotion and physicality of Laocoon's struggle, evident in the furrowed brow, tightly closed eyes, and the detailed rendering of the beard and hair. This work highlights Appiani's mastery of drawing, a skill essential for his successful career as a painter and portraitist.