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The School of Athens by raphael

Tomas Miralles

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Artist Background

  • Raffello Stanzio da Urbino (Raphael) was born in Urbino in the year 1483
  • His father was a painter who gave him a good eye for art
  • Raphael was an apprentice to Perugino, another great renaissance painter
  • As his fame and renown grew, he moved to Florence
  • In Florence he studied the masters of his time (da Vinci, Michaelangelo) and further perfected his own unique painting style
  • In 1508 Pope Julius II commissioned Raphael to paint his new stanza; Raphael thus moved to Rome where he lived out the rest of his life
  • His frescos brought him world fame, and a wave of commissions
  • In 1520 at the age of 37 he died suddenly

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Painting background

  • Eager to move out of his hated predecessors mansion, Pope Julius II builds a new palace
  • He hires several renowned painters to decorate it including Raphael
  • Raphael painted the ”stanza della segniatura” which he decorated with four murals that represented the four branches of knowledge
  • The most famous; “The school of Athens” represents philosophy
  • Raphael was inspired by ancient Greek philosophers

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Dimensions: 500cm x 770cm

Years painted: 1509-1511

Type: Fresco

Style: Realist

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THE PAINTING

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Analysis

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Expert Analysis

  • Analyisis by Joseph Phelan Ph.D., Dr. David Zucker, Dr. Beth Harris
  • Greatly reflects great ancient philosophy
  • Includes many famous painters and friends of Raphael
  • Inspiration from Dante’s Inferno
  • Conflict between Aristotle and Plato

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My Analysis

  • The School of Athens reflects the spirit of the renaissance in that it reflects humanism as well as individualism
  • It also reflects realism a painting style prominent in the renaissance
  • It show the revival of antiquity that the renaissance brought on
  • The fresco shows a rebirth of knowledge
  • Does not show secularism

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conclusion

  • In summary, The School of Athens is a genius Fresco
  • It represents the spirit of the renaissance as well as being a masterful piece in itself
  • Raphael‘s beautiful hand only accentuated the power of the painting
  • All of these factors make a truly unique and wonderful work and one of great significance

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