The death of Socrates(?) 1635 - 1676

Giambattista Langetti made this drawing of ‘The Death of Socrates(?),’ sometime in the 17th century in Italy. Langetti and other painters from his time who worked in Venice were called “tenebrosi,” which means “shadowy ones.” The style associated with the tenebrosi emerged out of social and cultural crisis. The once-powerful Republic of Venice, which had been Europe’s financial center during the Renaissance, was by this time in decline. Venetian artists were acutely aware of the social and political changes happening around them. Artists like Langetti developed a darker style to expose and critique what they saw as a society in decay. The story of Socrates, a philosopher put to death for challenging the status quo, would have resonated with Langetti, who saw his role as an artist as a challenge to existing social norms. In order to understand this work better, we can research Langetti and his contemporaries, the history of Venice, and the classical sources that inspired him. By exploring these resources, we can better appreciate art’s role in critiquing and reflecting social issues.