Death of Socrates

Here's a perfect example of neoclassical art, David, one of the most emblematic artists of this movement, would display during the turbulent France of revolutions. It is very easy to recognize. They are used to address issues of mainly Greek and Roman classical antiquity: in this case David chooses the execution of the Greek philosopher Socrates, towards 399 BC Then, emphasis is made ​​on the scene, which is important, avoiding secondary elements which divert the attention as the background: here is clearly more dark regarding the characters, which are illuminated by a light coming from the left. Human figures were drawn according to the Greek ideal, the heroic nude, looking like statues. Look at the detail of the design, color is relegated to the background, it seems simply fill drawing lines 
All these characteristics endowed the works an austere, almost aseptic. A clear separation between the painter and the work was established, there was a wall between them, is painted in a realistic but idealized, turning the mere spectators observe from a distance.Despite this, the exemplary value was strongly present; values ​​like honor or dignity extolled: in this case, the strength of Socrates, with absolute firmness facing the death sentence.

To highlight the importance of Socrates, David paints staring straight ahead, the only of the whole composition, and near the center, in the middle of the light beam. Much of the present direct their gaze on him, making it the absolute protagonist.

David tells the story of the last time the Greek philosopher, who had been forced to drink hemlock, a powerful poison for corrupting the youth and reject the gods. Many of his followers suggested to run, as Crito, who rests his hand on his thigh, as if to say "do not".However, Socrates abide by Greek laws on principle and resolutely accepts his sentence.Until the last moment continues to lecture, his arm raised in signal appears firm conviction, while the other reaches the poison that will lead to death. On the floor you can see an open chain, symbol of liberation from ignorance, Socrates stood as seeing dadero wrong. The other characters can not contain the emotion of the moment and appear indignant, even the jailer is embarrassed to serve the poison so exalted personality. Special case is that of Plato, the man of gray garments which faces away from the scene. Deeply thoughtful Shown at the death of his teacher, but afflicted content, embodying an intellectual maturity far superior to other components.

Finally, as a curiosity, we must add that the scene has some historical inaccuracies, limiting ourselves to the story that Plato wrote in Phaedo (probably represented on parchment we observe in the ground beside him) .Despite that David sought advice of scholars, to give some examples, Plato himself was not present at that time, because he was sick, and was much younger, not older man we observe. Licenses undoubtedly were taken consciously by the author, they not divert us from the true teaching of the canvas firmly with the ideals of self, complete congruence between what is thought and done, here exemplified by, in the words of Plato himself, "the wisest and fairest of all me