Indubitably, the death of Socrates (1787; Oil on canvas, 129.5 x 196.2 cm) is one of the exemplar of the many classic works by Jacques-Louis David. Indeed an extemporaneous review of the painting divulges critical information to any artistic mind of the time and period. The death of Socrates happened in an Athenian prison in 399 BC. However, it is significantly vital to note that Jacques-Louis David (1748-1825) was the frontrunner of the neoclassic movement. In this paper, nevertheless, the author will not only delve situate the painting or only converse the relationship between philosophy and dying as depicted in the painting but will. Choose formal elements in the paintings and demonstrate how this or these elements determine the content and message of the painting.
Primarily, it is imperative to note that David uses a Greek historical event which happened 2156 years before his time. Accordingly, he combines the Romans architecture as visible from the arches on the windows as well as the Athenians dress cord. Needless to say, he not only borrows the colors of Socrates disciple’s apparels from those in the last supper by Da Vinci but further reduces the number of people present at the event from 15 to 12 which echoes the number of disciples …show more content…
Giving an example of Socrates who was a skilled sculptor, Jean-Jacques the musician, besides the immortal Poussin, he continues to argue that the sublime lessons of philosophy are tracing on the canvas and that there much evidence that an artistic genius should only be guided by the torch of reason (David 1787). Unquestionably, by bring Plato who would have been in his twenties at the time of Socrates death, David wants to bring out the impression of the immortality of principles. Though the body might die idea live on and not even death can stop them and therefore death should not be the limiting factor and is