The British Museum has recently had the good fortune to acquire a statuette representing Socrates, which has been purchased for the Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities, with the aid of contributions from the National Art Collections Fund, Dr. Walter Leaf, and Mr. G. Eumorfopoulos. It is illustrated from four different points of view in Plates X.–XIII. It is of Parian marble, standing 27·5 cm. or 11 inches high, and was found recently at Alexandria. The statuette is in almost perfect condition, except that both feet are missing and also a portion of the drapery above the left foot; the manner in which the surface of the marble has been treated is remarkable, the flesh surfaces being highly polished throughout, while the hair, beard, and drapery retain a rough unpolished surface.

The philosopher stands full-face, with the right leg slightly bent; he wears a chiton which leaves the breast bare and is gathered at its upper edge in a thick fold immediately above the waist. Over it is a himation falling over the left shoulder and draped transversely over the back, where the sculptor's attempt at reproducing the effect of a textile fabric by very simple means has been surprisingly successful (see Plate XIII.). The garment is gathered up in a fold on the left side, where it hangs over the arm, the edge being caught in the left hand and drawn slightly back; the right hand, which is beautifully modelled, catches up the edge of the himation just above the knee.