Hagesandros, Athenodoros, and Polydoros of Rhodes were a group of Greek sculptors who relocated to Italy during the early Empire. The trio is famously known for creating the impressive bronze sculpture, Laocoön and His Sons. Pliny the Elder, a Roman historian, attributed the work to the three artists and praised it as the finest of all artworks.
Although the initial sculpture was created in the second century BCE using metal as its prime material, the version shown at the Vatican Museums is made from Greek Parian marble. The Laocoön and His Sons sculpture is regarded as one of the best examples of the Hellenistic baroque and has influenced the works of the Renaissance artists, Michelangelo and Titian.
Since its discovery in 1506, the Laocoön and His Sons sculpture has remained one of the most celebrated artworks in history. It portrays the Trojan priest, Laocoön, and his two sons being attacked by sea serpents. The sculpture has been analyzed from various angles by art historians, with its realism and emotional intensity being a standout feature.
