Analysis of The Death of Socrates by Jacques-Louis David
The Artwork that Captures Socrates’ Noble Suicide
Some artists seek to show us the world as it is; others depict how they want the world to be. Jacques-Louis David, who painted The Death of Socrates, undoubtedly falls into the latter category.
This painting depicts the moment the Greek philosopher Socrates raised his hand to address his disciples, before drinking from a deadly cup of hemlock. Socrates was on trial for his beliefs, and he would rather commit suicide than renounce them.
Many artists attempted to paint the same subject, yet none did so with the same clarity and directness as David. The painting is considered to be one of the great masterpieces of Neoclassical art.
To explore the meaning of this impressive painting, it’s first worth examining its central subject: the story of Socrates’ trial and suicide.
The Philosopher
Socrates was a leading intellectual of Athens in the 5th century BC, though he was a controversial figure in his native city. He engaged in debates wherever he went and constantly questioned the basis of conventional beliefs.
Socrates wrote nothing down; instead his words come to us through the writings of his pupil Plato, who…
