The painting "The Death of Socrates" by Jacques Louis David from 1787 depicts the last moments of the Greek philosopher Socrates. It shows Socrates calmly accepting his death by poison, surrounded by grieving friends and disciples. The painting was meant to influence French Revolutionaries to pursue political reform even at the cost of death, like Socrates pursued truth and philosophy until the end. It helped spread neoclassical ideals of referencing Greek and Roman art to promote democratic values during a time of political change in France.

1. Jeo P. Huminis
BSED MATH 3
Reading Visual Art, 2nd
Semester, 2020-2021
‘’The Death of Socrates’’
By: Jacques Louis David
1787
Art is just art but it changes mind and heart
The Death of Socrates was a famous painting painted by the renown French painter Jacques Louis
David in 1787. The painting was an example of neoclassical art. Neoclassical art was mainly about historical
happenings anchored on aesthetic attitude of Greek and Roman art of antiquity. The painting ‘’ The Death of
Socrates’’ used a fine line and curve with a smooth painted surface, minimal color and a vivid gestures to
express movement.
The painting at first glance could be tricky to determine how was the dearth of Socrates however when
you gaze at the middle part of the painting you will see a red cup and leading your sight to an emphasized
subject which was a muscular man painted with a white color to express emphasis. There were also hidden

2. Jeo P. Huminis
BSED MATH 3
Reading Visual Art, 2nd
Semester, 2020-2021
messages that could be found in the painting but a beholder must spend a little bit longer time to gaze and
find these hidden messages inscribed in it.
We can see a light that projects from the upper left to the main subject and a shadow on a left-hand
corner to portray that the subject was in a room. We can also see a doorway right at the left corner of the
painting. My first glance, I could hardly understand how Socrates died. However, tracing through history
through the writings of Plato in this book ‘’ Phaedo ‘’ telling that Socrates died by drinking a poisonous
hemlock. In the painting, it appears that Socrates was willingly facing death because we can refer to his hand
gestures as if he stretched out his hand grasping the red cup of poisonous hemlock. Through his face, we
cannot see any expression of guilt and despair.
There were also people weeping but some of them were taking heed to Socrates. The value applied in
this painting was really fine producing a realistic photo and the tone was carefully detailed to portray a
correct lighting and shadow. As you can see here, their robes were refined through applying proper tone.
Maybe before Socrates was condemned to death he was imprisoned and chained because there was a chain
on the floor.
Socrates in his time was a great philosopher who influenced many Greeks to uphold his teachings. One
of those Socrates’ Teachings was the Immortality of the soul or simply soul is eternal and indestructible.
Moreover, he also believed that there is life after death. Perhaps here, Socrates, in the middle of his death
bed still had the gut to teach his philosophies in life. Maybe he was quite prideful yet firm with his
principles.
If you have counted how many people were present in his death bed, there were 12 people excluding
Socrates himself. It seemed the same with the painting ‘’ The Last Suffer ‘’. I think the painter himself relate
his painting to the Last Suffer painting. As if these 12 people here were also disciples of Socrates because he
was a teacher same as with Jesus Christ. Maybe, the painter compared Socrates to Jesus Christ to be a
brilliant and influential teacher in his time thus he needed to die to prove his claim.
Like Jesus Christ, he died on the cross to prove that there is salvation and so do Socrates to prove that
there is an immortality of the soul so there is no need to worry in facing death. Going back to the painting,

3. Jeo P. Huminis
BSED MATH 3
Reading Visual Art, 2nd
Semester, 2020-2021
again we cannot know the real meaning of this painting without tracing its history. According to the book ‘’
Phaedo ‘’ by Plato he mentioned that Socrates was convicted to death because of impiety or denying the
Gods of the City and imparting his philosophies to the youth which many Greek citizens believed that his
teachings would just corrupt the minds of the youth.
Plato was his notable student who popularized his teachings because Plato had not jotted all his
philosophies but merely tell it to his students and followers without Plato there was no Socrates. Reading the
painting from left to right gives us the interpretation that Socrates and his teachings were just a memory of a
time. A Plato was the viewpoint of all Socrates’ teachings. From left we can see Plato dressed in a white
robe sitting on the bench and we can see a scroll with an ink laid on the floor that signifies that Plato was
just the one who recorded the whole Socrates’ philosophies.
In the reverse code of reading this painting, we can see that Plato in his time was energetically active in
imparting and educating the minds of the Greek youths. Until when he got convicted to death and all his
teachings were just a legacy which we can see in Plato’s book the ‘’ Phaedo ‘’. However, the painting is not
alongside with the detailed description of the death of Socrates found in Phaedo. In David’s description
about Plato, it appears that Plato was quite older and was present in Socrates’ death but in Phaedo Plato was
not present there and he was only 29 during the death of Socrates.
Moreover, in the painting Socrates appeared to be healthy and younger however in Phaedo Socrates
died at the age of 70. This painting had changed the minds of the Westerners especially during the French
Revolution. Jacques Louis David painted the said masterpiece not just for the sake of art but also for his
intention to influence the reformers to pursue their goals to change the political system in the 17 century
France.
When you gaze at the bench where Plato and Crito sit you will see a signature of the painter. Thus,
the painter represents these two guys here. Crito amidst Socrates’ death still listened to Socrates' teaching
and firmly grasped it all. While in the person of Plato the painter serves as viewpoint of the reformers
because David in his time was an influential man and many French were influenced with the impact of his

4. Jeo P. Huminis
BSED MATH 3
Reading Visual Art, 2nd
Semester, 2020-2021
painting ‘’ The Death of Socrates’’. Teaching the French revolutionists to uphold the goal even if it cost
their lives.
The true goal of this painting was to impart politics amidst conflict. As you can see at the bench
where Crito sit it has an inscription of the Athenian Seal that means the state must take heed to the proper
teaching for the good of the people. Crito was at the right of Socrates sitting and clutching on Socrates legs.
This painting impacted the minds of the French revolutionists to win their fight against the obsolete political
system in France the so-called Feudalism. Maybe it can influence how you think now. How to be firmly
abiding with your own philosophy in life. Even it costs you death when you believe you’re right then
prove your claim to be right. That’s all thank you.

5. Jeo P. Huminis
BSED MATH 3
Reading Visual Art, 2nd
Semester, 2020-2021
References
 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/436105
 https://mymodernmet.com/jacques-louis-david-the-death-of-socrates/
 https://medium.com/the-collector/reading-the-death-of-socrates-4528d7ecd221
 https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-arthistory/chapter/neoclassicism/
 https://www.britannica.com/event/French-Revolution