The Ashes of Phocion collected by his widow

Museum number

A1

Object

The Ashes of Phocion collected by his widow

Description

The widow of Phocion, the Athenian Statesman and General, collects his ashes to return them to Athens. Phocion was executed on false charges of treason and his body was ignominiously sent out of Athens to be burnt. The Athenian Acropolis can be seen in the distance.

This painting is an eighteenth-century copy, possibly by Thomas Barker, after Nicolas Poussin's famous original (1648, Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool). The original has been in England since at least 1782 when it was acquired by the 9th Earl of Derby. Thomas Barker of Bath painted many copies and pastiches after renowned old masters.

Phocion was an Athenian statesman and strategos. He was often believed to have been the most honest member of the Athenian Assembly. When the Macedonians invaded Greece and controlled Athens, Phocion was in opposition to the Macedonians and was sentenced to death for treason. He died via execution suicide. He was made to drink hemlock. When he died his body was forbidden from being buried or cremated in Attica and therefore his body was taken across the border into Megara. An empty tomb was made with Phocion’s bones and heart which his wife retrieved at night and once Cassander gained control of the city his remains were reburied and a bronze statue was made of him.

Materials

Oil

On display?

No

Further description

Simple name

Painting

Subject

Landscape

Dimensions

framed: 14cm (d) x 117cm (h) x 132cm (w)
regular: 87.2cm (h) x 104cm (w)