The School of Athens: Fresco by Rapheal

1. The fresco was commissioned by Pope Julius II in 1508 to decorate the walls of his private library. Raphael was 27 when he began work and he was paid 100 ducats. It shows the gathering of the philosophers of the ancient world around the central figur of Plato and Aristotle, his younger pupil. Famous figures of many ages are portayed in conversation. It was painted in the recently revived old Roman style of having portraits of poets in their libraries. Famous figures depicted in this work include the philosophers Plato, Pythagoras, Zoroaster, Aristotle, Euclid the geometrician, Ptolemy the astronomer and geographer. Also Alcibiades, Diogenes, Socrates, and Raphael himself. The emphasis is on Plato, pointing towards the heavens and holding his book of the origin of the world called "Timeaus", and the younger Aristotle, shown carrying his book "Ethics" while describing the earth and the whole realm of mortal teaching. To the right of Plato, stands Socrates, characterized by his beard and pug-nose. His companions are said to be Eschinus, Alcibiades (in armour), and Xenaphen. On the far lower left is a man in a green hat. This is Zeno. Next to him there is a child holding a book for Epicurus. Averros, wearing a turban, looks over the shoulder of Pythagorus, who is writing in another book. In front of him there is a tablet t t shows the musical intervals of the octave. Pythagorus is observed by Anaxogorus, who casually uses a small block for leverage while he writes. The young man in the white robes is said to be Francesco Maria della Rovere, Duke of Urbino, nephew and ally f Julius II. Seated by a large marble block on the floor is Heraclitus (or Democritus). His face is a portrait of Michelangelo, a good friend of Raphael’s. Diogenes is sprawled on the steps just right of center. To his right is Euclid (who is said to be a portrait Bramante) drawing a pair of equalateral triangles to form a six pointed star. On his gown is inscribed RSVM: Raphael Urbinas Sua Mana which means “Raphael of Urbina, by his hand”. Further right in the group wearing a pointed crown is Ptolemy, who holds terestrial sphere. Holding a celestial sphere is Zoroaster and behind him is Raphael, who is said to have used a mirror to paint his own portrait. Raphael was commissioned to paint several other frescos and paintings for the Pope after this. He became even more well known and grew in popularity. When he died in 1520, at the age of 37, he was mourned greatly by the whole papal court.

2. The four women at the top of the painting represent the four tondi (Theology, Poetry, Philosophy, and Justiprudence). The two large statues overlooking the activity below are Apollo, the greek god of music, and Athena goddess of wisdom. They represe Art and Learning. The tiny square of meadow visable between Plato and Aristotle symbolizes that the mind passes through the temple of knowledge and reaches the subliminal image of nature, then dissolves into the sky.

3. Raphael was able to make a large group of people appear unified. He was concerned with the subtlties of the human form. He often intertwined bright colours for effect. This quality is also observed in work by Michelangelo which is not so surprising, nce the two probably discussed the subject together.