Top 10 Things to Know about The School of Athens by Raphael

By Lure – Wikimedia

Top 10 Things to Know about The School of Athens by Raphael

The painting School of Athens refers to a famous mural painted by Raphael in the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City.

It was painted between 1510 and 1511 in the rooms known as the Stanze Della Segnetura.

This painting was the second one to be completed by Raphael depicting philosophy as a branch of knowledge.

The masterpiece shows a gathering of the great Greek philosophers and is said to be the best example of Renaissance art.

Art enthusiasts and critics alike agree that Raphael’s masterpiece represents the union of art, philosophy and science.

Raphael was inspired by Leonardo da Vinci which saw the rebirth of ancient Greek Philosophy and Culture.

The School of Athens is a true representation of the classical essence of the Renaissance. Here are the top 10 things to know about The School of Athens.

1. Raphael started working on the painting in his early 20s

Raphael was celebrated as a superstar amongst his age group.

He was one of the most creative artists of the High Renaissance. Raphael started painting as a young trainee to the great Pietro Perugino who was a well-known painter.

While in his mid-20s Raphael started working in the now-famous Raphael Rooms. This was after he was invited by Pope Julius II to paint the walls of the Vatican.

Raphael’s work was so good that the Pope trusted him to revamp his private quarters with the mural.

After Raphael was done with The School of Athens, the Pope was so impressed that he commissioned him to paint the four walls in the Stanza Della Segnetura.

Raphael lived a short life and is buried in Pantheon in Rome, among many other famous personalities of Rome.

2. The fresco depicts distinct branches of knowledge

By Lure – Wikimedia

The School of Athens is one of a group of four themed frescoes on the walls of the Stanza. It represents the distinct branches of knowledge.

All the philosophers shown in the fresco conventionally sought knowledge through an understanding of root causes, these ties wee to the title and theme of the fresco.

The term school was used to represent ancient Greek philosophy and how the philosophers sought knowledge of first causes.

There are also some elements of the fresco that depict Roman architecture, while the crescent setting alludes to Pythagoras circumspect.

3. Raphael included most of the great ancient Greek philosophers in the painting

To bring out the theme of his painting, Raphael painted a total of 50 scholars that used philosophy and knowledge.

The characters in this mural are classical philosophers, scientists, mathematicians and others. They are seen sharing their ideas and learning from each other.

Art enthusiasts have said that most of the ancient Greek philosophers have been included in the painting.

However, it is not easy to tell their differences and no literature explains the painting.

Raphael used a system of iconography to differentiate the philosophers even though there were no traditional visual types.

4. The main figures in the painting is Aristotle and Plato

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The fresco in Stanze Della Segnetura is made up of more than 21 distinct figures. They are all engaged in conversations and are in small groups.

Interestingly, all the figures in this mural are male and believed to be Greek philosophers.

Two distinct figures in this fresco are Aristotle and Plato.

They are centred in the painting, with the figure believed to be Plato holding a bound copy of Timaeus and is grey-haired depicting age.

Aristotle on the other hand, who was his student, appears younger and is looking at his teacher. In his hand, is a copy of Nicomachean Ethics.

These two men are seen to be in deep conversation, gesturing their right hands, as they walk through other great men.

5. Raphael was commissioned by the Pope to paint his private quarters

One fact that art historians agree on is that Raphael was assigned the task to paint by Pope Julius II.

What they seem not to agree on is if the Pope specified on having the Greek philosophers as part of the fresco.

They also seem to disagree on the level of Raphael’s philosophical knowledge and how it influenced him and his colleagues.

Despite the lack of common understanding of the inspiration behind the fresco, School of Athens shows Raphael’s talent and ability to mesh four different frescos to one theme.

The School of Athens mural continues to represent High Renaissance art.

6. Raphael first worked on the Room of the Signatures

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The first room that Raphael worked on was the Stanza Della Segnatura, also known as Room of the Signature.

This room was where very important church documents were signed, sealed and set into law.

It was also Pope Julius II private library and the meeting place for the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura.

Raphael was keen to select timeless colour, shapes, narratives and rhythm to decorate the walls of the library.

He dedicated individual frescos to each wall as per the four principal subjects found in the Pope’s library. They were law, religion, literature and philosophy.

7. Raphael faced a challenge in trying to distinguish the philosophers

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Raphael did not have a smooth ride during his time at the Vatican. While preparing the sketches, Raphael was faced with a challenge.

He needed to let the art observer tell apart the figures of his fresco. Raphael needed to use his creativity to distinguish them even though they all wore similar robes.

8. Raphael was commissioned by the same Pope that commissioned Michelangelo

As Raphael was working on the four walls of the Stanza Della Segnetura, his counterpart Michelangelo was working on next door painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

These two great artists were commissioned by Pope Julius II. During their time, being commissioned by the Pope was the dream of any artist because it validated one’s career.

Raphael received the news while he was in Florence and was excited. He hoped to surpass a previously done fresco commissioned by Pope Alexander VI.

Before taking up this job, Raphael was only known for his small portraits and religious paintings on wood. His friend Bramante is believed to have put in a good word for him with the Pope.

9. This was the third painting that Raphael completed

The School of Athens was the third painting Raphael completed after Disputa that represents theology and Parnassus that represents literature.

All these paintings were on the wall in the private library. The School of Athens faces Disputa and sets a contrast between religion and lay belief.

It was common during Pope Julius II time to decorate the walls of private libraries with portraits of great thinkers.

Being a great artist, Raphael embarked on combining the four themes effortlessly against each other.

This is believed to translate the intellect of the Pope and his visitors that entered the room.

10. Raphael used the painting to layout the complex lessons of philosophy

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This mural is set in an immense architectural illusion painted by Raphael. The School of Athens is a masterwork that visually embodies an intellectual concept.

He skillfully and artistically grouped the philosophers bringing out the complex lesson on the history of philosophy and the different beliefs developed by the Greek philosophers.