Portrait of Socrates, 18th century Roman school

Socrates
Fourth quarter 18th century
Oil on canvas, in a carved gilt-wood frame
Dimensions: 59 x 71 cm. / 23 ¼ x 28 ins., framed 85.5 x 107.5 cm. / 33 ½ x 42 ¼ ins

This bust-length portrait of the ancient Greek philosopher, Socrates, is a fine example of Neoclassical painting from the late eighteenth century.

The composition is clearly inspired by the figure of Socrates in Raphael’s fresco of the School of Athens (1509-11), in the Stanza della Segnatura in the Apostolic Palace of the Vatican, which also shows the philosopher in left-side profile wearing a green tunic. The German artist Anton Raphael Mengs (1728-79), one of the earliest and most influential Neoclassical painters, painted a full-size copy of the School of Athens for the Duke of Northumberland (Victoria & Albert Museum, London, P.36-1926), whilst several engravings were made after Mengs’ drawings. This demonstrates that Raphael’s frescoes were being keenly observed and studied by Mengs and his followers during this period.

The present portrait, therefore, was probably executed by a talented young follower of Mengs, who was also in close contact with the more austere, scholarly classicism being explored by David and other French artists studying in Rome in the 1770s.