The MAH presents De bleu, de blanc, de rouge. French Paintings of the 19th Century at the MAH, the result of a program to reappraise French paintings of the 19th century (1800-1918), launched in 2020 in collaboration with the University of Geneva. The exhibition sheds light on the evolution of taste and artistic techniques during this period of change. Highlights include pieces such as Death of Socrates by François-Xavier Fabre and View of Auvers with Wheatfield by Vincent van Gogh. The tour of the exhibition makes it possible to address all aspects of a heritage enhancement project, from building the collection to research issues and the study of the painting profession.
François-Xavier Fabre (Montpellier, 1766 - Montpellier, 1837). The Death of Socrates , 1802 © MAH Musées d'art et d'histoire de Genève
The death of Socrates
Socrates taught his students purely orally in order to make them think instead of giving them ready-made formulas. Because he questions religious and moral values, he is sentenced to death and must drink hemlock, a poison used for executions in Athens. The sage is placed in the center of the composition, surrounded by his mourning disciples. Before putting the deadly cup to his lips, he continues his philosophical reflections in a calm, dignified posture, remaining strictly true to his principles in this final moment. He embodies an example of that "virtus" so praised by the neoclassical sensibility. This painting, which was commissioned by the great Geneva collector Jean-Gabriel Eynard, is obviously a response to Jacques-Louis David's famous painting "La Mort de Socrate" (1787, Metropolitan Museum, New York).
March 16 to August 18, 2024
