Thémistocle Se Réfugie Chez Admète 

Charles-Philippe Lariviere painted “Thémistocle Se Réfugie Chez Admète” in the 19th century. This work encapsulates the era's fascination with antiquity, portraying a scene of supplication and refuge which invites us to consider the socio-political dimensions of hospitality. Lariviere's painting, situated within post-revolutionary France, draws on the classical past to explore themes of exile, asylum and moral obligation. In it, we see Themistocles, the Athenian statesman, seeking protection from King Admetus, after facing ostracism. How might we view this scene through the lens of social contract theory and the rights of the individual within the state? Does it critique the institutions of ostracism? To grasp Lariviere's work fully, we can consult historical texts, political writings, and art criticism from that time. It is through this contextualization that we understand how art reflects and comments on the social structures of its own time.