Figure Study for ‘The Death of Socrates’ c. 1786 - 1787

This charcoal drawing, “Figure Study for ‘The Death of Socrates’”, is a preparatory study by Jacques-Louis David, a leading artist of the Neoclassical movement. Created in the late 18th century, this piece demonstrates David’s meticulous approach to figure drawing. It showcases a single figure, likely Socrates himself, seated on a platform, with his drapery meticulously rendered. This drawing, with its emphasis on precise anatomical detail, is a testament to the Neoclassical ideal of beauty and order.