The School of Athens by Raphael Sanzio

The School of Athens by Raphael Sanzio, 1509 Fresco, width at the base 770 cm Stanza della Segnatura, Palazzi Pontifici, Vatican

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The School of Athens by Raphael Sanzio is a fresco painting decorating the private library of the pope, the Stanza della Segnatura, in the Vatican palace in Rome. The School of Athens by Raphael depicts the concept of philosophy. Raphael, influrenced by the current Neoplatonism of the time, depicts classically attired figures representing famous philosophers. They inhabit a magnificent grisaille architectural wonder with a scene which is meant to take place in antiquity.

Centered in the composition and striding through a series of illustionistic arches are the philosophers Plato and Aristotle engaged in a lively dialogue on the source of wisdom or truth. Plato, Aristotle's teacher, points to the sky, arguing that wisdom comes from above, divinely inspired. Aristotle motions to the earth indicating that wisdom comes from empirical observation. Small groups of thinkers flank the central figures while others are scattered about, some sprawled on the floor. In The School of Athens by Raphael, they seem to be debating their various philosophies in the search for truth.

The architecture in The School of Athens by Raphael is reminiscent of Italian Renaissance architect Donato Bramante's plan for the new St. Peters, architecture inspired by grandiose Roman architecture. Bramante was Raphael Sanzio's cousin, so it is no surprise that Raphael pays tribute to his famous family relation. The figures exist naturally within the illusionistic structure.

Seated Figure of Michelangelo Detail from The School of Athens by Raphael

Brenda Harness, Art Historian