Painting by Nicolas Poussin (1594 – 1665) – Funeral of Phocion 1648

Poussin painted the picture in 1648 as a private commission for a wealthy friend of the artist named Gerisier. It was displayed in Paris in 1665 and was seen and commented upon by Louis XIV, King of France, as Poussin had been Court Painter to his father Louis VIII at the time of its commission. It disappeared from public viewing around 1700 after the death of its owner and subsequent resale. Despite the efforts of art experts in trying to trace it, its whereabouts remained unknown.

Francis Edward Carey lived in the Villa Carey, in the Grange, Guernsey, UK. Upon his death in 1921, there was a difference of opinion between his sons, de Lisle Carey and Conrad Carey over the sharing-out of the contents of the house. They decided to hold a public auction to sell off the items, many of the more valuable items were sold for a paltry price. One of the sale items was a painting that was purchased by an art dealer.

Noted by Mrs Eva Norrish (née Carey), “My great-aunt Mrs Le Marchant writes – a dealer by the name of Barber bought this picture at the sale of Villa Carey for £7/-. In England, he sold it to a second dealer for £1200/- and the second dealer sold it to a third for £20,000 and returned the painting to France and from him the Louvre, Paris bought it for £60,000.”

On close examination this painting proved to be the genuine masterpiece of Poussin having being missing for 220 years. The painting has now been re-united with other Poussin masterpieces at the Louvre, Paris, France. It represents a view of the city of Athens and has in the foreground, two slaves carrying the body of the Statesman, Phocion who had spent a lifetime refusing to be bribed which led to him being  condemned to death by being forced to drink hemlock and was then given an unworthy burial.

Phocion lived in Greece from (402 – c. 318 BC) and died aged 84.

Phocion was an Athenian statesman and held the title of Strategos (Military General / Governor).
As a former pupil of Plato and vastly experienced in multiple military campaigns, he was one of the most successful politicians of Athens holding forty-five terms in the most important political and military offices throughout his life.

He was popularly known as ‘The Good’ due his virtues, high morality and extreme frugality in living his life and was considered by history as ‘the most honest politician’ of the Athenian Assembly. His morality placed him in opposition on many issues, often resulted in him taking a solitary stand against his political colleagues. His individual prestige, military expertise, and negotiation skills as an ambassador continued to hold him in high esteem and he was well respected as a giver of prudent advice amongst friends and foe alike.  He was unhappy that the primary public offices had split into two factions, namely with civilian matters being dealt with by politicians and military issues attended to exclusively by the Generals. He campaigned extensively that governing of civilian and military matters should be managed by those chosen to govern the best interests of the Greek State and Provinces and not those who sought the top positions purely to promote their own ambitions.

Intellectual Wit
Phocion often challenged the propositions of his colleagues with critical statements particularly if War was on the agenda, which made him unpopular with those seeking positions of power or those wishing to benefit from the rich spoils of war and abuse of lesser nations. His serious rebukes and well meaning wisdom often led to conflict with opposing parties.

Phocion had urged negotiations should take place to discuss a boundary dispute with Thebes, while most of his Athenian colleagues proposed going directly to war with them. He argued, “You had better carry on the contest with the weapons you use best: your tongues.”

Polyeuctos was a particularly out-of-shape Athenian politician who made a speech advocating war with Philip II of Macedon. Whilst talking, he repeatedly stopped to drink water and catch his breath. During one pause Phocion remarked loudly,
“Here is a fine man to lead us into war. What do you think he’ll do, when he is carrying his shield and armor to meet the enemy, if giving a speech has nearly killed him with exhaustion?”

On one occasion, Phocion was proposing a resolution and another interrupted him with ridicule.
He responded: “You may compel me to act against my wishes, but you shall never force me to speak against my judgment.”
Another, Demosthenes commented to Phocion pointing out “You might end up being killed some day if these people became irrational.”
Phocion responded: “Yes; however, they would kill you if they came to their senses.”

The Athenian politician Aristogeiton often called to resolve any conflict by proposing war. When a War was finally decided upon, he hobbled into the assembly wearing bandages around his legs and supporting himself with a cane.  Phocion called out “Write down Aristogeiton too as being lame and unfit for service.” Shortly afterwards, Aristogeiton was jailed and Phocion often visited him there.
When his colleagues criticised him for doing so, he replied “There is no better place to visit him”.

Political career
Despite being a formidable opponent in political circles, Phocion never spoke harshly or harmed anyone he disliked. Indeed, he was so kind that he would not hesitate to assist a political rival if he was in some difficulty. Phocion sought to improve upon the eloquence and delivery of his speeches when parrying against his political colleagues. He spoke frankly, to the point in a demanding manner with few embellishments and sought to condense and compress many ideas into shortened phrases.
One of his friends asked him “You seem to be thinking about something Phocion” to which he replied “Yes, I am considering whether I can shorten the speech I have previously made“

On one occasion, Phocion was asked to travel by sea to collect tributes (large financial payments for protection and recognition of their overlords) from their allies in the Second Athenian League. Anyone sent from Athens to collect tributes was highly unpopular so Phocion was issued twenty warships to accompany him. However, he declined the offer stating that “if I am being sent to fight, then I will need a larger force, but if I am visiting them as allies, one ship is enough”. Phocion negotiated each tribute with great diplomacy with each of the allies and upon returning home, he was accompanied by a large fleet of allied ships, all wishing to protect their valuable treasury in providing their tributes to Athens.

At a time when many of the Athenian generals were disliked and untrusted due to their disposition to follow a torch and burn policy through their desire for war, Phocion stood out from amongst them. He gained many allies and friendships through his unwavering honesty and steadfastness to seeking peaceful solutions where possible and conducting masterful military tactics and maneuvers when required to regain the balance of peace and equilibrium throughout the warring nations. 

The Good – the incorruptible, the unwavering Phocion
Phocion was provided with many opportunities to become extremely wealthy, either by favours amongst his offices or by the high commissions he received to manage campaigns and secure allied partnerships. He was known as being incorruptible and led an extremely frugal lifestyle seeking only to wear a simple tunic with no shoes and preferring a cloak in colder weather. This was despite the fact that the entire Athenian political class was quite corrupt in that epoch and grew wealthy during their appointments.

A rich political refugee, Harpalus arrived at Athens from Asia and offered 700 talents to Phocion, who rejected his offer. Phocion warned him that he shouldn’t attempt to corrupt Athens or he would be punished. This angered the pompous Harpalus who instead used the money to bribe the remaining Athenian statesmen against Phocion during assembly.  Despite this, Phocion continued assisting him to establish position in Athens. Harpalus continued in his ways however by offering a generous commission to Phocion’s son in law, Charicles to build a magnificent tomb. Charicles was discovered and investigated for corruption. At the trial, hoping to call on his father in law for support, Phocion stated, “As my son in law, I chose you for honourable purposes, in this matter I can do nothing.”

When the Macedonian army threatened invasion, the question arose as to whether it would be better to engage in battle close to home or to fight them at a distance. Phocion advised, “Let us not ask where we should fight, but how we may win. That will be the way to keep war at a distance. If we are beaten in a distant battle, it will soon be at our doors.“

Philip II of Macedonia succeeded invading the Greek states by easily persuading many of the Greek officials to support his cause through the offer of bribes which they readily accepted. He offered much money also to Phocion suggesting him to consider the future needs of his sons.
Phocion responded, “If my sons are like me, my farm, which has enabled my present eminence, will suffice for them. If, instead, they become spoiled by luxury, I will not be the individual who will be guilty for that.“

Phillip’s son, Alexander the Great sent a delegation to Phocion to offer him 100 talents as a bribe, but Phocion refused, saying: “I am an honorable man. I would not harm either Alexander’s reputation or mine.“
So, Alexander further offered him the government and possession of the cities Cius, Mylasa and Elaea. Phocion promptly refused, but instead requested the release of the Athenian men enslaved at Sardis, who were then promptly liberated.  Alexander impressed by the reputation that Phocion commanded,  sought out his advice in dealing with the Athenian politicians. Phocion’s proposals always remained fair and just, despite some of them favouring his enemies also.

The Macedonian leader that followed Alexander, Menyllus, also offered bribes to Phocion and received the response saying: “You are not a better man than Alexander, so there is no reason to accept your gifts.”

Macedonian Rulership
When the Macedonian General Antipater arrived in Athens with his army, many thousands of Athenians were displaced and forced into exile. Phocion remained in Athens as its sole ruler and sought to maintain peace throughout with the Macedonian overlords by only appointing non rebellious and peacefully agreeable citizens to office – a fact that made him very unpopular with the Athenian populace, in particular, those who had been exiled from the city.

Macedonia proposed restoration of the Athenian state in exchange for recognition as supreme ruler and in agreement, possibly due to Phocion’s proposals, many of  the Athenian people were allowed to return from exile. However, unhappy with the politicians who they felt had betrayed the former democracy, Phocion was deposed of his long standing role as Military General and brought before a massive assembly for judgement by the newly freed Athenian citizens. 

As the charges were read out to Phocion and the other remaining politicians, the large crowd cried out ‘treason’ against all those who had remained of which they deemed to be the enemies of their freedom. 
Phocion demanded: “Do you wish to condemn us justly? Then, you should listen to our defense.“
Phocion then insisted: “I admit that I have wronged and deserve condemnation for my political actions. However, these other individuals don’t.“
Some people responded that they should all be condemned to death for just being his friends.
As the condemning motion was read out, in unison, the whole crowd rose up from their seats. Phocion and ten acquaintances were sentenced to die by drinking the toxic poison – hemlock.

They were led to the prison and the hemlock was prepared and was passed amongst the men for drinking but not enough of the poison remained for Phocion to drink.  The prison executioner complained that he was unable to make more of the concoction and refused to prepare more until he was paid 12 drachmas to purchase more hemlock.
Phocion remarked, “In Athens, it is hard for a man even to die without paying for it.”
Once the executioner was paid the extra sum, Phocion drank the poison and died.
It was May 19, 318 BC, he was aged 84.

His funeral
As a condemned man, it was decreed that the corpse could not be buried or cremated within the city; so a man was hired to take his body out of the city and there have it burned. Phocion’s wife set up an empty tomb, brought Phocion’s bones and heart home by night, and buried them there.

And thus a great statesman, orator and military genius who would have at any other time in history been celebrated and honoured after a lifetime of service having maintained dignity, truth, honour and fair justice, was instead condemned to death as a traitor by the very people who had formerly loved and supported him.