Portret van Paul Josef de Cock, 1779, Groeningemuseum, 0040105000

Suvee was born in 1743 in Bruges, Belgium and studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp. He later moved to Paris, where he became a pupil of Jacques-Louis David. Suvee became known for his neoclassical style and his paintings often depicted historical or mythological scenes. One of Suvee's most famous works is The Death of Socrates, which depicts the philosopher Socrates drinking hemlock while surrounded by his disciples. The painting is notable for its dramatic lighting and composition. Suvee also painted portraits, including one of Napoleon Bonaparte, now in the Louvre in Paris. He was appointed court painter to the French royal family and was a member of the prestigious Académie des Beaux-Arts. Suvee died in Paris in 1807 at the age of 64. His legacy lives on through his works, which can be seen in museums around the world.