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A large bust depicting the famous Greek philosopher Socrates, crafted from glazed terracotta
The sculpture rests on a circular pedestal bearing the cartouche “SOCRATES”: he is depicted from the front, his shoulders draped in a Roman toga.
Socrates (470–399 B.C.) is the founding father of Western philosophy. Having never written anything, this Athenian sage spent his days in the Agora engaging in dialogue with his students and fellow citizens. His most famous maxim is “All I know is that I know nothing.”
He was sentenced to death for his subversive ideas; he died stoically by drinking hemlock.
In the 19th century, his bust was the ultimate symbol of ancient wisdom.
In good overall condition for an early 19th-century piece: it has a few cracks, chips, and scattered signs of wear. Some old restorations.
Height 73 cm
49 x 26 cm
12,250
Ref: LHJCSWR2OF