[Reproduction of The Death of Socrates by Jacques-Louis David]
The subject of this photographic engraving is immediately recognizable despite its lack of detail and areas of image loss. Such shortcomings are due to the novelty of the printing process—which reproduced a daguerreotype in ink by transforming it into a printable, etched matrix—rather than the source material, a celebrated engraving by Jean-Baptiste Massard after David’s 1787 painting, The Death of Socrates (MMA 31.45). Early attempts at photomechanical reproduction were driven by professional competition to reproduce the unique daguerreotype as well as by the financial allure of creating a nascent industry aimed at artists, scientists, and the publishing industry. In this regard, Massard’s print was a fitting subject. Originally produced in collaboration with David to disseminate the lofty ideals of his painting, the engravings were viewed as commercial products after the painter’s death in 1825 and became the subject of a lawsuit to determine who controlled the proceeds from their sale.
Artwork Details
- Title: [Reproduction of The Death of Socrates by Jacques-Louis David]
- Artist: Unknown
- Artist: After Jacques-Louis-Jules David
- Date: ca. 1843
- Medium: Intaglio print from daguerreotype
- Dimensions: Image: 1 15/16 in. × 3 in. (4.9 × 7.6 cm)
Sheet: 5 11/16 × 4 7/16 in. (14.4 × 11.3 cm) - Classifications: Photographs, Prints
- Credit Line: Gift of Michael S. Sachs, 2022
- Object Number: 2022.377
- Curatorial Department: Photographs
More Artwork
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.