School of Athens, from the Stanza della Segnatura, 1510-11

ID: #14209 | TOP 100 | Renaissance | People

Date: 1510
Medium: fresco
Location: Vatican Museums and Galleries, Vatican City

"School of Athens" (School of Athens) is one of the most famous paintings of the Italian Renaissance painter Raffaele Santi , also known as Rafael. This painting is part of the fresco decoration in the so-called Stanza della Segnatura (Room of Signatures) in the Vatican Palace in Rome, which Raphael painted in 1509-1511. The painting "School of Athens" is one of the four main paintings in this room and represents the theme of philosophy.

The picture is painted on the wall and has very monumental dimensions. Here Rafael created a huge composition with many figures. The entire painting has a central perspective that creates an impression of depth and space. In the center of the painting is a massive arch with a pair of figures that attract the viewer's attention.

The painting contains many figures representing important philosophers, mathematicians, scientists and artists of the ancient world. The main figures include Plato and Aristotle, who stand in the middle. Plato holds his dialogue "Timaeus" and points up to the firmament, while Aristotle holds his book "Ethics" and points down to the earth. Around them are other figures such as Socrates, Heraclitus, Euclid and Ptolemy. The spheres that are placed above some figures symbolize cosmic order and mathematics. The various books and manuscripts held by the characters represent different fields of science and learning. Raphael painted picture School of Athens, from the Stanza della Segnatura, 1510-11 in 1510. Prevailing color of this fine art print is green and its shape is landscape. This art piece is located in Vatican Museums and Galleries, Vatican City. This image is printed on demand - you can choose material, size and finishing.