Framed Graphite Drawing of Socrates Late 19th or Early 20th Century - 20¾" x 16½"

A framed graphite drawing depicting a reclining classical philosopher, traditionally identified as Socrates, rendered with precise hatching and softly modeled drapery. The monochrome study is set within a cream mount with an ochre washline and presented under glass in a giltwood frame with a beaded sight edge. Scattered foxing and toning to the sheet and mount, along with minor scuffs and rubbed gilding to the frame, contribute to its antique scholarly charm.

Such academic figure studies belong to the École des Beaux-Arts tradition of drawing "d’après l’antique", where students copied antique statuary or engravings to refine anatomy and drapery. The philosopher, a favored Neoclassical motif, evokes moral virtue and reason, themes often widely circulated in prints and plaster casts during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Ideal for a library, study, or entry, the work brings a classical note and quiet gravitas to a room. It hangs beautifully over a writing desk or console, complements a gallery wall of drawings and engravings, and pairs naturally with marble busts, bronze bookends, or muted faïence. Its subdued palette and patinated frame suit both classical interiors and modern spaces seeking a refined, historic accent.