5: GRAND TOUR RIGHETTI WORKSHOP LAOCOON BRONZE GROUP 1811

Laocoön and His Sons Attacked by Serpents (1811)
A fine bronze group in dark brown patina with the inscription FR. RIGHETTI. ET. FIL. FEC ROM 1811 in the casting along one side. This particular mark differs from other examples by Francesco Righetti (1749-1819). Many have similar markings, like the Laocoon grouping from around 1815 signed FRANC.RIGHETTI.ET.ALOYS.FIL.ROMA.FUNDE.CAM.FEC. for Francesco and his son Luigi. It was sold at Christies in London for GBP 16,100 in 2009. Other examples include some aspects of the lettering referred to here, but no record of a work signed by Righetti with these exact same markings was found.

The famous tale of Laocoön and His Sons originates with ancient Greek and Roman mythology. The story is probably best told by the near life size ancient marble sculpture that depicts the agony of the Trojan priest Laocoön and His Sons as they are entwined and killed by serpents sent by gods angered over the priest's warning, 'Beware of Greeks Bearing Gifts.' The original sculpture was rediscovered and excavated in 1506 and is now in the Vatican Museums.

Francesco Righetti was one of the most prolific sculptors in Rome in the late 18th early 19th centuries. He executed large-scale projects for popes and monarchs, but is probably best remembered for his small bronze statuettes after famous antiquities such as this. After a time, his son Luigi becoming his assistant at the foundry and the inscription on this example speaks to that if the following is correctly translated from the lettering along the base:

FR. RIGHETTI referring to the founder sculptor Francesco Righetti.

ET. FIL. for et filius translating to ''and son.''

FEC for fecit, a Latin term meaning ''made by.''

ROM 1811: indicating that it was made in Rome in the year 1811.
Measures 15 x 11 x 5 inches.
Very good condition throughout, no damage, repair or heavy wear.
Provenance: The estate of a longtime Kansas City collector.
$4,000 - $8,000