The Death of Socrates 1744 - 1754

Michel François Dandré-Bardon made this drawing of "The Death of Socrates" with pen and brown ink, and brown wash over graphite. Look closely, and you can see the directness and the speed with which the artist worked. Pen and ink demanded an immediate response, allowing for a free and flowing line, but at the cost of easy correction. The brown wash, applied with a brush, gives depth to the scene, the tone of the material adding an emotional layer to the composition. Dandré-Bardon uses hatching and cross-hatching to indicate shadow, a technique that requires careful consideration of light and form. The choice of such an immediate, relatively inexpensive medium is indicative of a study, or a preliminary sketch. This wasn’t necessarily intended as a finished artwork in its own right. It has a vitality that a more labored painting might lack, but above all, this drawing is a testament to the artist’s command of his materials, his capacity to capture a dramatic moment with minimal means. It shows how artistic skill can imbue even humble materials with great expressive power.