Socrates with a Disciple and Diotima (?)

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In the shade of a danse tree Socrates is seated, talking with a disciple. A self – confident lady has joined the discussion. She and Socrates are evidently engaged in a heated debate, while the young man is somewhat restrained in wonderor in shy contradiction to the learned lady. A half – unrolled inscribed scroll lies on Socrates’ knee. In the distance, a town is visible in the centre, with a domed central building at its outskirts. The lady came from the town or from the temple in a chariot, accompanied by two companions who are now patiently waiting for her and passing their time with a chat

Artist Franc Kavčič/Caucig

Year of creation (before 1810)

Technique oil, canvas

Dimensions 121,5 x 173,5 cm

Inventory number NG S 3333, National Gallery of Slovenia, Ljubljana

Collection 1800–1820

Preservation: The painting has been streched on a new frame, cleaned and retouched. Chalk ground.
Restored: 2005, Kemal Selmanović, Ljubljana
Provenance: Before 1810: painted for Palais Auersperg in Vienna; 1953: the painting in the Kaiser Saal was bought, together with the palace, by consul Alfred Weiss. After his death the palace was sold in 1987; 2005: the National Gallery of Slovenia bought the painting from a private art collector of Vienna.
Exhibition: Franc Kavčič/Caucig; Paintings for Palais Auersperg in Vienna; National Gallery of Ljubljana, 24 October 2007 – 10 February 2008
Lit: Annalen 1810, p. 359; Boeckh 1825, p. 328; Kukuljević 1858, p. 153; Palais Auersperg c. 1957, p. 23 ( just general references in all bibliographical items ).