The School of Athens by Raphael: A Masterpiece of Renaissance Art
The School of Athens
Chronology
1510-1511
Style
High Renaissance, Cinquecento
Author: Raphael
Technique: Fresco
Support: Wall
Location: Stanza della Segnatura (Vatican City)
Characteristics of the Period:
- Consolidation of oil painting techniques and the introduction of new media like canvas, influenced by Flemish artists.
- Emphasis on figures’ expressiveness through the use of eyes and hands.
- Use of chiaroscuro to define the contours of figures and create a sense of depth.
- Influence of Leonardo da Vinci’s sfumato and perspective techniques.
- Influence of Michelangelo’s emphasis on terribilità , as seen in the Sistine Chapel.
Analysis
The School of Athens is characterized by its meticulous composition, artistic mastery, and the lifelike portrayal of its figures. The composition skillfully combines the human element of the philosophers with the ordered architectural setting, creating a dynamic effect. The figures move in various directions, seeking knowledge and inspiration, while only Plato stands in majestic stillness. The harmony within each group is highlighted, with each figure playing a specific role, contributing to the overall balance of the composition.
Raphael’s innovative use of space creates a sense of depth and amplitude, allowing the figures to move freely. The architectural setting, influenced by Bramante’s vision of ideal architecture, draws inspiration from classical forms.
Raphael masterfully conveys complex ideas through simple gestures. For instance, the contrasting gestures of Plato and Aristotle encapsulate their philosophical ideologies: Plato points upwards to the realm of ideas, while Aristotle gestures towards the earth, representing human reality.
Raphael’s Artistic Development
Raphael trained under Perugino, a painter known for his serene and harmonious style. Raphael quickly absorbed his master’s techniques but further enriched his artistic vision by studying the works of Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, incorporating their innovative approaches into his own style.
Iconography
The scene centers around Plato and Aristotle, the two great philosophers of antiquity, engaged in conversation. The setting represents the seven liberal arts: Grammar, Arithmetic, and Music on the left foreground; Geometry and Astronomy on the right foreground; and Rhetoric and Dialectics at the top of the stairs. The figures depicted include ancient philosophers, artists, humanists, and figures from the papal court.
Meaning
The painting showcases a diverse group of philosophers from antiquity, representing various perspectives on human affairs. Raphael chose not to include contemporary philosophers, believing that all philosophical thought since the Greeks stemmed from their ideas.
Plato, holding his Timaeus, represents abstract and idealistic philosophy, while Aristotle, with his Ethics, embodies empirical philosophy. Plato’s upward gesture symbolizes the world of ideas, while Aristotle’s gesture towards the ground represents human reality. Plato stands out as the only figure exuding calmness amidst the lively debate.
Other notable figures include:
- Pythagoras: The Greek mathematician, surrounded by an enthralled audience, personifies Arithmetic and Music.
- Heraclitus: Depicted with Michelangelo’s features, he represents the concept of perpetual change.
- Epicurus: Shown reading a book to a child, he believed that happiness lay in the pursuit of spiritual pleasures.
- Diogenes the Cynic: Lying on the steps, indifferent to his surroundings, he embodies the rejection of material possessions and social conventions.
- Euclid: The first representative of geometry, depicted with a compass, bears the face of the architect Bramante.
- Socrates: Engaging in discussion near Plato.
- Alexander the Great: The Macedonian king and disciple of Aristotle, listens attentively.
- Zoroaster: Holding a celestial sphere.
- Ptolemy II: Wearing a crown and holding a globe, symbolizing his geocentric theory.
- Raphael: The young man in a black cap, depicted as a self-portrait.
Influence
Raphael’s School of Athens has inspired generations of artists, including Baroque masters like Annibale Carracci and Nicolas Poussin, and renowned draftsmen like Ingres in the 19th century.
Function
The fresco was commissioned to decorate the Stanza della Segnatura in the Vatican Palace. This room, where papal documents were signed, also served as the Pope’s library.