Raphael's "School of Athens"

Paper Summary:

Addressing multiple interpretations of the piece, this paper identifies and discusses the importance of the content's of Raphael's "School of Athens." It analyzes the figures and architecture in the piece in relation to the philosophy, religion and schools of thought of both the classical and Renaissance time periods.

From the Paper:

"Raphael's School of Athens, a fresco located within the Vatican, depicts a gathering of figures that appear to be philosophers and other important thinkers and innovators within an architecturally Classical structure. School of Athens contains many references to the art of the world hundreds of years before, but is also a distinctively Renaissance piece. Detailed observation and analysis provides more information on both the subjects of the painting and details of its setting, as well as insight into the ways Raphael was able to seamlessly blend Classical times with Renaissance times. Further study of the work and its subjects reveals the complex symbolism used by Raphael and reveals multiple levels of interpretation. The work contains so many references, both obvious and slightly hidden, to philosophy, religion, and architecture (and the relationship of these subjects to the culture and thinking of the Renaissance and Classical worlds) that multiple ideas and interpretations of the work are common. In a piece of such depth and detail, one must be able to understand the range of notions about the work and the areas of emphasis placed on certain aspects of the piece in order to truly understand Raphael's accomplishment in School of Athens."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bellori, Giovanni Pietro. "The Image of the Ancient Gymnasium of Athens, or Philosophy." Raphael's "School of Athens." Ed. Marcia Hall. Cambridge, England: 1997. 48-56.
• Janson, H.W. and Anthony F. Janson. History of Art: The Western Tradition. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2004.
• Lieberman, Ralph E. "The Architectural Background." Raphael's "School of Athens." Ed. Marcia Hall. Cambridge: 1997. 64-81.
• Verdon, Timothy. "Pagans in the Church: The School of Athens in Religious Context." Raphael's "School of Athens." Ed. Marcia Hall. Cambridge, England: 1997. 115-129.

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