Figures Attacked by Serpents
1800â25
Classification
figures
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Grafton H. Pyne
Accession Number
1948-118-27
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
**Figures Attacked by Serpents *Raymond Lafage (French, 1656–1684), 1800–25* This dramatic work, attributed to the French Baroque artist Raymond Lafage captures a tense mythological scene of figures entangled and attacked by serpents. Lafage, a master draftsman and painter active in Toulouse and Rome, renowned for his dynamic compositions blending classical antiquity with vigorous movement, often drawing from ancient myths like the Laocoön story. Though Lafage died in 1684, this piece dates to 1800–25, suggesting it may be a later reproduction, etching, or workshop copy—common for popular...