Caricature of the Laocoön Group - Niccolò Boldrini

A satirical woodcut from the sixteenth century, replacing the figures of the classical Laocoön sculpture with monkeys.

This woodcut, attributed to the Venetian printmaker Niccolò Boldrini, offers a satirical take on the famous Hellenistic sculpture, the Laocoön and His Sons. The original marble group, discovered in Rome in 1506, depicts the Trojan priest Laocoön and his two sons struggling against sea serpents. Boldrini replaces the human figures with monkeys, transforming the tragic, agonised composition into a grotesque parody.

The print reflects the sixteenth-century fascination with classical antiquity, while simultaneously mocking the intense veneration of such works. By substituting the heroic human forms with simians, the artist subverts the gravity of the original sculpture. The monkeys mimic the poses of the classical figures, yet their expressions and proportions introduce a jarring, humorous element. The background features a simplified, somewhat rustic setting, which contrasts with the dramatic action occurring in the foreground.

Boldrini worked closely with Titian, and this print is often associated with the master's designs. The woodcut technique allows for bold, clear lines that define the musculature and fur of the monkeys, as well as the coils of the serpents. The composition retains the pyramidal structure of the original sculpture, ensuring the parody remains recognisable to a contemporary audience familiar with the Laocoön. This work provides insight into the period's artistic culture, where classical motifs were frequently reinterpreted, critiqued, or adapted for different purposes. It remains a curious example of how Renaissance artists engaged with the weight of antiquity through wit and technical skill.