Peisistratos beklager sig for Athenienserne over det overfald, han siger sig at have været genstand for. Han sidder på æseltrukket kærre, omgivet af talrige mennesker 1743 - 1809

Nicolai Abildgaard rendered this drawing of Peisistratos in monochrome ink. Here, the Athenian tyrant Peisistratos makes his appeal to the Athenian people. Note the raised hand—a gesture of supplication, but also of authority. It echoes through centuries of art, from Roman emperors to Renaissance saints, each adapting the gesture to their own narrative of power and appeal. The donkey, usually a symbol of humility, here contrasts with the regal bearing of Peisistratos. Similarly, the crown of olive leaves, an ancient symbol of peace and victory, feels ironic given the manipulative context of its wearer. These symbols, laden with historical weight, engage our collective memory. They touch on deep-seated associations of power, deceit, and the eternal human drama of leadership and persuasion. It's a cycle of symbolic reinvention, where each era reinterprets the past to shape its present.