Crito

Crito by Jacques Louis David is a masterful example of Neoclassical preparatory drawing, created sometime between 1781 and 1792. This study utilizes black chalk, meticulously stumped to achieve soft gradations of shadow, and is dramatically heightened with white chalk to define highlights and volume. The inclusion of visible squaring, executed in black chalk across the sheet, indicates that this drawing was used as a precise guide for transferring the composition to a larger canvas. It is intimately related to David's iconic treatments of classical history, focusing here on a dramatic exchange between key men from ancient Greek philosophy.

The subject, drawn from antiquity, centers on the figure of Crito, the loyal disciple of Socrates, and likely represents the scene where he attempts to persuade the condemned philosopher to escape prison. While this piece is often associated with the background preparations for David’s seminal painting, The Death of Socrates (1787), this specific study emphasizes the profound character and moral dilemma faced by these prominent classical figures. David’s meticulous rendering of the male form and the intense psychological interaction establishes the powerful emotional framework typical of his late eighteenth-century productions. His focus on clear line and heroic masculinity set the standard for the burgeoning Neoclassical movement in Europe.

This significant historical piece, classified simply as a drawing, resides in the respected collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Due to its age and cultural importance, the work is now frequently found in the public domain, allowing institutions and researchers worldwide to create high-quality prints and references for educational use globally.