One looks to even be begging Socrates to go against his principles in order to live. Next, there is a character that is covering his face in anguish. Socrates is holding him back to keep him from intervening. This shows how strongly he stood behind his principles and teachings. This is believed to be Plato in his younger years when he attended his trial. His most loyal student, Crito, is seen on the right side of Socrates. On the far right side are soldiers cast in the darkest light of all characters shown in the scene. Socrates and Plato are painted in sharp and angular positions, showing that they were heavily based on principles; however, the students to the left were painted in curved positions showing that they were weak and driven by passion. The number of characters in this scene has decreased to ten, instead of the original fifteen members that were present at his death. This decrease in characters simplifies the painting, yet still portrays the same chaos as fifteen characters would
One looks to even be begging Socrates to go against his principles in order to live. Next, there is a character that is covering his face in anguish. Socrates is holding him back to keep him from intervening. This shows how strongly he stood behind his principles and teachings. This is believed to be Plato in his younger years when he attended his trial. His most loyal student, Crito, is seen on the right side of Socrates. On the far right side are soldiers cast in the darkest light of all characters shown in the scene. Socrates and Plato are painted in sharp and angular positions, showing that they were heavily based on principles; however, the students to the left were painted in curved positions showing that they were weak and driven by passion. The number of characters in this scene has decreased to ten, instead of the original fifteen members that were present at his death. This decrease in characters simplifies the painting, yet still portrays the same chaos as fifteen characters would