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A morte de Sócrates

Jacques Louis David French

1787

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 634

Sócrates, acusado pelo governo ateniense de ter renegado os deuses e de corromper os jovens com seus ensinamentos, foi obrigado a escolher entre suas crenças ou ser condenado a beber cicuta. David o retrata discursando serenamente sobre a imortalidade da alma a seus discípulos aflitos. A pintura, cujo heroi estóico é vagamente baseado no Fédon, de Platão, é talvez a melhor expressão neoclássica de David. O gravador e editor John Boydell escreveu a Sir Joshua Reynolds que era a maior “conquista artística desde a Capela Sistina e Salas de Rafael. . . Esta obra teria sido uma homenagem à Atenas de Péricles”.

#5184. A morte de Sócrates

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The Death of Socrates, Jacques Louis David (French, Paris 1748–1825 Brussels), Oil on canvas — Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

The Death of Socrates, Jacques Louis David (French, Paris 1748–1825 Brussels), Oil on canvas

The Death of Socrates, Jacques Louis David (French, Paris 1748–1825 Brussels), Oil on canvas

The Death of Socrates, Jacques Louis David (French, Paris 1748–1825 Brussels), Oil on canvas

The Death of Socrates, Jacques Louis David (French, Paris 1748–1825 Brussels), Oil on canvas

The Death of Socrates, Jacques Louis David (French, Paris 1748–1825 Brussels), Oil on canvas

The Death of Socrates, Jacques Louis David (French, Paris 1748–1825 Brussels), Oil on canvas

The Death of Socrates, Jacques Louis David (French, Paris 1748–1825 Brussels), Oil on canvas

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.

Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Fig. 1. Herm of Socrates, from a Greek original of the second half of the 4th century B.C., marble, 54.8 cm (Musei Capitolini, Rome; MC 0508). Possible source for David's figure.

Fig. 2. Infrared reflectogram (see Technical Notes)

Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Fig. 3. Picture in frame: overall

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Fig. 4. Painting in frame: corner

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Fig. 5. Painting in frame: angled corner

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Fig. 6. Profile drawing of frame. W 7 11/16 in. 19.6 cm (T. Newbery)

Título: A morte de Sócrates

Artista: Jacques-Louis David, francês, 1748–1825

Data: 1787

Meio: Óleo sobre tela

Dimensões: 129,5 x 196,2 cm

Linha de créditos: Coleção Catharine Lorillard Wolfe, Fundo Wolfe, 1931

Número de acesso: 31.45

Iron distribution map of The Death of Socrates

The Death of Socrates: New Discoveries

Technical examination of Jacques Louis David’s masterpiece reveals that the refinements seen in the artist’s preparatory drawings didn’t end when he began painting—rather, they continued through all stages of its execution.

A painting of the philosopher Socrates speaking before a crowd

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In Jacques Louis David’s The Death of Socrates (1787), a parable of principle on the eve of the French Revolution.

One of The Met's European Paintings galleries, with Jacques Louis David's "Death of Socrates" at the center

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Curator Keith Christiansen takes a fresh look at Jacques Louis David's The Death of Socrates after its new installation in gallery 631.

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Curator Keith Christiansen highlights the aspects of Valentin de Boulogne's work that Neoclassical painter Jacques Louis David included in his own pictures.

Left: black chalk drawing of Socrates by Jacques Louis David. Right: mezzotint print of an executioner holding the head of John the Baptist

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Security manager Jose Rivero contemplates the different types of hero archetypes, from comic book super heroes to religious figures.

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European Paintings at The Met

The Met's celebrated European Paintings collection encompasses more than 2,500 works of art from the thirteenth through the early twentieth century.