Laocoön

El Greco

c. 1610–1614 · Oil on canvas · National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC

Size4:3 ratio

Frame

$79Unframed print · made to order

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Complete the setHangs well with these two

This print

Laocoön

The Annunciation (Fra Angelico)

Newton

3 × $79 at 32 × 24 in, unframed = $237 → $213.30 as a set · 10% included · free shipping

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Giclée-printed to order on heavyweight matte fine-art paper

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About this work

Artist: El Greco (1541–1614)
Year: c. 1610–1614
Medium: Oil on canvas
Original size: 137.5 × 172.5 cm
Collection: National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC
Movement: Renaissance

The Trojan priest Laocoön lies on his back on dark rocks, struggling with a serpent; one son lies dead beside him and the other, standing, tries to hold another snake at arm's length, while at the right two unclothed figures, probably gods, look on. In the background lies Toledo under a stormy sky, with a horse walking towards the city gate, perhaps an allusion to the Trojan Horse. In Virgil's account Laocoön warned the Trojans against the wooden horse and was killed with his sons by serpents sent by the gods. The famous ancient marble group of the subject, rediscovered in Rome in 1506, was known to El Greco, but his elongated, pale figures depart from it entirely. He painted the canvas in about 1610–1614, at the end of his life; it is his only surviving mythological painting, and parts appear unfinished. Setting it before Toledo may reflect a local tradition that the city was founded by descendants of Trojans. It came to the National Gallery of Art in Washington with the Samuel H. Kress Collection.

This print reproduces the whole work, uncropped, from a high-resolution scan of the original. The original is in the public domain.

Where it works

Pale, elongated figures wrestling serpents on dark rocks before Toledo under a churning blue sky, for a study, living room or hallway at 32×24 in black. A slate, charcoal or warm stone wall; it pairs with The Raft of the Medusa.

Style, size & framing detail

Style: Renaissance painting
Era: 17th century (c. 1610–1614)
Orientation: Landscape
Mood: grand
Rooms: living room, hallway or entryway, study or library, dining room
Good gift for: housewarming, art lovers

Size. We'd hang this one at 32×24. Prints at 16×12, 24×18, 32×24 in — 16×12 for a shelf, desk or a gallery-wall grid; 24×18 above a console or sideboard; 32×24 as the statement piece above a sofa or headboard.

Framing. The gallery ground is part of the print, so frame it without a mat — black suits the deep tones of this period; natural wood lightens it.

Pairing. Pairs as a set of three with other famous painting prints (10% off three or more).

Details & materials

• Restored in-house from the original painting — cleaned and colour-trued at museum resolution • Heavyweight matte fine-art paper, giclée printed at 300 DPI • Sizes: 16×12, 24×18, 32×24 in; every size also available framed • Framed option: wood frame in black or natural wood, 12 mm wide and 22 mm deep, with a plexiglass front and no mat; the print is mounted inside and the frame's outside measures the listed size • Made to order; colours may vary slightly from screen

Shipping & returns

Printed after you order at the facility nearest you, then shipped. Standard delivery is free and takes 4–9 business days from order to door in the US, UK and EU (up to 10 elsewhere); Express takes 4–6 business days. Because each print is made to order we don't take change-of-mind returns, but if it arrives damaged or flawed we'll reprint or refund it — no return needed. Full policy →

Is this the whole painting, or a crop?

The whole work, uncropped. The image fills the print at the painting's own proportions; nothing is trimmed to fit a frame.

Is Laocoön in the public domain?

Yes. El Greco (1541–1614) died more than 70 years ago and the work was published before 1929, so the painting itself is public domain. This print is a reproduction made from a high-resolution scan of the original, which is held by National Gallery of Art.

What is it printed on?

Heavyweight matte fine-art paper with pigment inks, made to order in 16×12, 24×18 and 32×24 inches; every size is also offered framed in black or natural wood, with plexiglass and no mat. Colours are matched to the scan, not brightened.

When was Laocoön painted, and in what medium?

Laocoön dates from c. 1610–1614 and was made in oil on canvas; the original measures 137.5 × 172.5 cm.

What size works above a sofa or bed?

Across a three-seat sofa or a queen bed, 32×24 is the size that reads as one statement piece; 24×18 suits a narrower wall or a pair. For Laocoön we'd choose 32×24. It is a landscape print, wider than it is tall, at the painting's own proportions.

About this design

Laocoön (El Greco) — Laocoön · El Greco · c. 1610–1614. This is a fine-art reproduction of a public-domain masterwork, shown whole and uncropped on a gallery ground, printed to order on heavyweight matte fine-art paper. Every size is offered unframed or framed in black or natural wood. Part of the Madten Fine Art Collection. — — — Printed to order and shipped by our production partner, Gelato.

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The Madten promise

Gallery-grade archival giclée. Rich pigment inks on heavyweight fine-art paper (or gallery-wrapped canvas) — built to last, not a poster-shop print.

Arrives perfect or we reprint it — free. Every piece is made to order; if it shows up damaged or flawed we remake it, no return needed.

Free worldwide shipping. Made & shipped from the facility nearest you — most orders arrive in 4–9 business days.

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