Raphael: The School of Athens

School of Athens, Raphael, 1509-10

Raphaello Sanzio Da Urbino or better know as just Raphael was another artist of the high Renaissance and made the Renaissance worth remembering. He made many improvements in color, perspective, and was known for his clarity and execution. One of his most famous works is the School of the Athens which is located in the Vatican in a Room where the Pope signs documents called La Stanza della Segnatura. It shows many theologians, scientists, and philosophers and what they represent. The two main philosophers are in the middle and that is Plato and Aristotle. Plato represents the dimension that exists outside of our realm and that is why he points to the sky and then there is Aristotle and he points to the ground which means he stands for "our" dimension and reason through the physical realm. Among the others are Diogenes, the great cynic, and even Raphael added himself to the far right. Raphael shows his knowledge of philosophy and the other studies by showing all these brilliant people coming together in conversation. Vasari adds that he "adorned this painting with perspective and many figures completed with such a delicate and soft style." He also showed he knew about roman classicism and culture by placing them in the right setting with the coughed barrel vault above and they seem to be in a palazzo. This represented the minimal requirements of the Renaissance, but Raphael takes it to a whole new level when he expresses his understanding of perspective and executes beautifully.