Art: the focus of today's Friday escapist thread will be great works or lesser known pieces that I personally like by famous artists. 1. "Death of Socrates" by Jacques Louis David. David portrays the moment before Socrates drinks hemlock instead of renouncing his philosophy.

2. "Madame X" -- John Singer Sargent. The daring and sensual content - in particular, its off-the-shoulder dress strap - caused a scandal. (Met Museum.)

@Kafkaesque_Blog Death of Marat is always my favorite of his, but I really like this one too.

@Kafkaesque_Blog FABULOUS selections! Always more David - over-wrought themes and mad skill. And really, who isn't a pre-Raphaelite? Used to use the attached David (Intervention of the Sabine Women) as a PPT slide background, got nudity complaint from DOD legal training class!