The Death of Seneca 1768 - 1778

"The Death of Seneca" is a brown ink drawing by Pierre Peyron, created between 1768 and 1778. The drawing, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, depicts the Roman philosopher Seneca the Younger, known for his stoic philosophy, in the final moments of his life. The drawing captures Seneca’s death by vein-cutting, a method of suicide practiced in ancient Rome, as he sits in a reclining chair surrounded by figures who are either mourning or witnessing the act. This drawing, made in a Neoclassical style, demonstrates Peyron's mastery in depicting Roman history and philosophy through a dramatic and poignant scene.