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Laocoon Is One Of The Most Beautiful Sculptures In The World.
I think Laocoon is the most beautiful piece of Hellenistic work in the world. Looted by Napoleon, seen and ranked by Pliny as the greatest work of art. Preferred more than paintings and cast subjects. However over the past centuries Laocoon's arm has stuck out like a sore thumb...;-)
 joe9  25 Nov 2008 09:37
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Laocoon's right arm was returned to the figure and replaced into its correct position half way through the last century. However it is the most exquisite piece of sculpture in the world.
 
 joe9  25 Nov 2008 09:41
 2 Comments
 
 From the Millions of people whom have poured into St. Peter's Square, Rome, and then travelled onward towards the exquisite Sistine Chapel, within the Vatican Museums, in search of enlightenment and knowledge. I wonder how many have taken a profound look at the magnificent statue of Laocoon, which was looted by Napolean, and then returned to the Vatican City. It is a piece seen and ranked by Pliny the Elder as the greatest piece of art work in the world, preferred by him more than paintings. The controvercy surrounding Laocoon, defending his two sons from sea serpents, which was amazingly created out of a single block of marble, has fooled thousands of Writers', Poets', and Artists over the past centuries. Gothhold Ephraim Lessing's dissertation on Poetry, and Plastic Art, uses Laocoon as a peg on which to hang his great-unfinished treatise. However, when Lessing wrote his famous piece, like numerous of other Writers', Artists' and Poets', whom, have all been fascinated with the sculpture of Laocoon, (the famous Seer and son of Priam, who warned against bringing the gigantic wooden horse into Troy, - so eloquently recorded and penned by Virgil, in 'The Aeneid'), how many knew they were all being misled by Loacoon's missing right arm, which was not found with the rest of the sculpture, when it was rediscovered in 1509, on the Esquine Hill, Rome. However, ever since Laocoon's right arm was returned to the figure half way through the last century, and fixed once again in its rightful correct position behind his head. Controversy has arisen. Thousands of replica models of this beautiful piece have become obsolete, simply because the fake relica arm was pointing downwards in the wrong direction. Michael Angelo, who designed this arm, and embellished many of the pieces striking contorts onto his own sculptures was even fooled too! Just goes to show us all, art can sometimes fool the best of us...;-)
by  joe9
 25 Nov 2008 10:16
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The Pieta
The first of two sculptures from Michelangelo, this rendition of the Pieta was the first to represent Mary as a young and serene.

It's absolutely beautiful!
 
 imright20  25 Nov 2008 21:03
 2 Comments
 
 Absolutely Beautiful imright20?...;-) According to Lynn there are no absolutes except for the fact there are no absolutes....;-)
by  joe9
 26 Nov 2008 15:48
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Yikers!!!

That statue has got SNAKES!

Nope. I vote Michelangelo's David: A SOLITARY-WORK of Divine-Proportions (in every way;-)
 
 sylverwyld  25 Nov 2008 19:02
 7 Comments
 
 I challenge your VOTE...;-) Raise you 1000 ships, and CALL....;-)

Let the Game commence...;-) Loacoon uttered those immortal words when the Trojans brought the gigantic wooden horse into Troy: 'whatever it is, even when Greeks bring gifts, I fear them, gifts and all'. In otherwords beware of Greeks bearing Gifts, or those steeped in Greek Knowledge bringing you the gift of this awesome debate Sylverwyld...;-)

Ok my opening Gambit!..;-)

(1) My First Piece

This guy makes Goliath seem like a defenseless little homunculus, and it would take more than your statue of David to bring him down with a small stone hurled from a sling...;-):

The Greatest UBERMENSCH of all warriors. Achilles. His mother dipped him into the river Styx after his birth to make him invulnerable in battle. He has got to be the most formidable warrior of all time...;-) However, he did have one weakness, do you know what it was?

(2) Second Piece Helen. Christopher Marlowe's Faustus, greatest wish of all was that he could see the most stunningly beautiful, glamorously gorgeous delectable Lady the world had ever known up to the end of the sixteenth century. As you well know there's a more delectably beautiful Lady living in the world today....;-) Marlowe wrote, (Fautus request to Mephistophilis): ' One thing, good servant, let me crave of thee. Bring that fair Helen, whose admired worth made Greece with ten years war afflict poor Troy. Whose sweet embraces may extinguish clean those thoughts that do dissuade me from my vow, and keep my oath to Lucifer.

Meph: This or whatever else Fautus may desire shall be performed in a twinkling of an eye. [enter helen passing over the stage between two cupids]

Fautus: Was this the face that launched a thousand ships, and burnt the topless towers of Illium?
Sweet Helen, make me immortal with a kiss! [kisses her]
Her Lips suck forth my soul; see where it flies, come Helen, cum...;-) give me my soul again! Oh, thou art fairer than the evening air, clad in the beauty of a thousand stars: brighter art thou than flaming Jupiter, when he appeared to Semele: more lovely than the monarch of the sky, in wanton Arethusa's azured arms! Here will I dwell, for heaven is in these lips, and, all is dross that is not Helen.

To see the full vision of Marlowe's description of Helen, do you know who Flaming Jupiter, Semele, and Arethusa is?

(3) Paris: Helen's Lover, the son of Priam, King of Troy, and Hecuba; and through his abduction of Helen, was the cause of the siege of Troy. Before his birth Hecuba was told in a prophecy that she was to bring forth a firebrand, and, this was interpreted to mean that the unborn child would bring forth destruction to his house, the infant Paris was exposed on Mount Ida. He was however brought up by a Shepherd, and grew to perfection of beautiful manhood. When the golden Apple of Discord was thrown upon the of the Gods it was Paris who had to judge between the rival claims of Hera, (Juno), and Aphrodite, (Venus), and Athene (Minerva); each godess offered him bribes- the first POWER, the second the most BEAUTIFUL of WOMEN, and the third MARITAL GLORY. He awarded the apple to the title of ''FAIREST'' to Aphrodite, who in return assisted him to carry off Helen, for whom he deserted his wife.

Many Writers', Poets', and Artists, have all been fascinated with Laocoon, son of Priam, and priest of Apollo, one of the most famous of all SEERS. Which is possibly the greatest piece of sculpture in the world.

Art is subjected to definite conditions. An Artist's hand can achieve magnificent results only in so far as they allow themselves to be limited by the functions of that branch of Art, when they are allowed to judge by strict rule of thumb. Laocoon has a very special place in the very heart of Rome, and every Roman, because the piece sybolises the music, art, poetry, exquisite eloquence, fortifying strength, dexterity, and determination released from the marble block, and is emblematic of the mighty Trojans of Troy, the great ancesters and founders of the Roman Race...;-)

CHECK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;-) ;-) ;-)

Quid pro Quo!!!...;-) Your move! Dire Straits: 'Why Worry!' playing now full chat!
by  joe9
 26 Nov 2008 10:25
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