Democritus among the Abderitans

Democritus Among the Abderites is a 1791 history painting by the French artist François-André Vincent. It depicts a scene from Ancient Greek history in which the philosopher Democritus is shown in his native Abdera in the 5th Century BC. Democritus was known as the "laughing philosopher" for his belief in maintaining a cheerful attitude in the face of adversity. He was famously misunderstood and even mocked by the citizens, who found his manner eccentric and troubling Vincent almost certainly drew his inspiration for the painting from one of the Fables by Jean de La Fontaine.

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