The Hellenistic period refers to the era after Alexander the Great’s attempted annexation of the known world. His death in 323 B.C. typically marks the beginning of this period, while 31 B.C. traditionally marks its end with the Battle of Actium. Due to Alexander’s attempts to disseminate Greek culture, Greece held widespread influence on other societies. Therefore Greek aesthetic had a large impact on the art of the time period.
After Alexander’s short reign, his territories were divided up into smaller kingdoms. These new kings loved extravagant displays of wealth and so many became patrons of the arts. They commissioned for sculptures and architecture as well as more private forms of art such as jewelry. The jewelry itself became more lavish and grew to include more semiprecious stones due to the new trade routes that had formed. Architecture was dominated by the Corinthian order. The subject matter of their art moved away from the ideal and towards the more realistic. The grotesque and more common inhabitants (such as the elderly and children) were then taken into account. So their art began to depict more diversity and became more evocative of the subject’s emotion. Sculptures were made to be seen from every angle instead of just from one viewpoint.
The sculpture of Laocoon and his sons exemplifies this new style. This sculpture illustrates a point during the Trojan War, when the gods sent serpents into Troy to kill Laocoon and his sons as punishment for him trying to convince the Trojans to burn the Trojan horse. Both Laocoon and his sons are very expressive in their depiction.
Very nice.