What you are looking at
Sentenced to death, the philosopher Socrates sits up on his bed, one hand pointing upward as he keeps teaching, and reaches for the cup of hemlock poison without looking. His grieving followers surround him.
Why it is famous
David painted it in 1787 as a lesson in courage and principle, in a clear, sculptural style. It is a key work of Neoclassicism.
How big is The Death of Socrates?
The Death of Socrates measures 129.5 × 196.2 cm (51.0 × 77.2 in), without its frame. Its surface is about 6 times the area of the Mona Lisa.
Compare it with other paintings
Where to see it
It is at the Met in New York.
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More by Jacques-Louis David
All Jacques-Louis David paintings
Also at The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Frequently asked questions
Who painted The Death of Socrates?
Jacques-Louis David painted The Death of Socrates in 1787.
Where is The Death of Socrates?
The Death of Socrates is in The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, United States. (Gallery 634.)
How big is The Death of Socrates?
129.5 × 196.2 cm (51.0 × 77.2 in). Its surface is about 6 times the area of the Mona Lisa.
What is The Death of Socrates made with?
Oil on canvas.
Sources: The Met, "The Death of Socrates" (31.45); Wikidata Q1752990; Wikipedia, "The Death of Socrates". Checked October 17, 2026. How we check.