The museum record
The Metropolitan Museum of Art records this work as The Death of Socrates, by Jacques Louis David. The object facts below come from the museum’s collection record. They describe the original object; a reproduction can have different dimensions.
| Detail | Museum record |
|---|---|
| Artist | Jacques Louis David |
| Date | 1787 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Original dimensions | 51 x 77 1/4 in. (129.5 x 196.2 cm) |
| Collection | Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Collection, Wolfe Fund, 1931 |
Look at the composition
Study the arrangement of figures, the repeated horizontal architectural lines and the bright central body. Gestures and changes in clothing color divide the wide scene into smaller groups. There is a great deal to look at across the picture, so compare the whole scene with the details you would still recognize at a smaller print size.
A busy composition can benefit from a deliberate amount of surrounding space. Test a plain border or mat next to a preview before adding a decorative frame. This is a visual comparison rather than a rule: the room, neighboring pictures and the particular reproduction will all affect the result.
Plan a reproduction
Keep the full group of figures visible when beginning a layout. If a paper proportion differs, compare a border with a crop at both sides. Do not assume that the empty architectural areas are expendable; they are part of the balance you see in the complete image.
Open the museum record for the available image and source details. Inspect the file you download, compare its actual proportions with your paper, and confirm the printer’s requirements before ordering a reproduction.
Image source
The Met currently identifies this object’s image as public domain and makes its Open Access images available under CC0. Follow the collection link to inspect the museum’s available image files and current object record.