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Secondary sourceSculpture1790-1792

The Apology of Socrates before the Judges

Antonio Canova · 1790-1792

A plaster relief by sculptor Antonio Canova showing Socrates defending himself at his trial before the judges of Athens.

Depicts Socrates's trial and defense speech, a pivotal event that led to his execution.

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White plaster relief showing seated and standing robed figures before a draped curtain on a raised platform. A central standing figure in a helmet and cloak gestures, while other figures listen or look on, in an ancient-style courtroom scene.
Antonio Canova, The Apology of Socrates before the Judges, 1790-1792.

About this source

What it is

This relief, made between 1790 and 1792 by the sculptor Antonio Canova, shows a courtroom scene from ancient Athens with robed figures seated and standing, imagining Socrates's defense speech at his trial.

Why it matters

Socrates's trial and his defense speech, recorded by Plato in the 'Apology', became a famous example of standing by one's beliefs even when facing punishment. Canova, a leading Neoclassical sculptor, used the subject to connect his own era to the ideals of ancient Greek philosophy and justice.

Look closer

  • Who seems to be the central figure in the relief, and how can you tell?
  • What does the setting tell you about how the artist imagined an ancient Greek trial?
  • What is missing from this image that we only know from written accounts of the trial?

This sculpture is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Socrates on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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Apology

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Line engraving in a multi-line border showing a bust of a bearded man with curly hair and a furrowed brow, on a plinth. The label below reads SOCRATE. Lower right reads Landon direx.Painting

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Line Engraving of Socrates by Landon

Charles Paul Landon

Cover of a 1925 Italian paperback, Platone, Dialoghi III, Critone, tan cardboard with red double border. Handwritten inscription at top, red handwritten marking near bottom. Publisher Vallecchi Editore Firenze.Book

Secondary source

Crito

Plato · c. 400 BC

Engraving of a bearded, balding bust of Socrates in an arched niche, set on a stone pedestal. Inscription below reads 'SOCRATES SOPHRONISCI FILIUS ATHENIESIS', with credits 'P.P. Rubens delin.' and 'P. Pontius sculpsit, 1638'.Painting

Secondary source

Socrates Engraving after Rubens by Pontius

Peter Paul Rubens · 1638

Black-and-white photograph of a white marble bust of a bearded man, shown from the front and slightly turned, with deep-set eyes, a curly beard and hair, against a dark background. The image is a glass lantern slide with labels reading Socrate and Université de Louvain.Photograph

Secondary source

Roman Marble Bust of Socrates

between 1839 and 1939

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