RENAISSANCE ART

SCHOOL OF ATHENS 

Artist Name : Raphael 

Artwork Name : School Of Athens

Location : Vatican Museums

Raphael's School of Athens was not meant as any type of school that actually existed . Raphael created a spacious hall that recalls the "temples raised by philosophy" written by the Roman poet Lucretius. The School of Athens demonstrates, like classical statues or clear and distinct ideas, idealized portraits of Raphael's contemporaries representing the major figures of classical wisdom and science. Taken further, Raphael painted on the Vatican Palace's walls his vision of the world of Humanist thought.

In the center of the artwork, Plato and Aristotle are discussing the respective merits of Idealism vs. Realism. Plato holds his book, Timeouts, one of the few works by Plato that had been recovered by the Renaissance, while explaining how the universe was created by the demurring from perfect mathematical models, forms and the regular geometric solids. With his right hand Plato gestures upwards, indicating that the eternal forms, such as the ideals of Beauty, Goodness and Truth, are not in or of this world, but beyond, in a timeless realm of pure Ideas.

Characteristics School Of Athens 

Perspective

• As a spectator viewing the School of Athens you are made to feel that you could step into the space in this picture, as if walking into a theatrical setting on a stage. There is a series of horizontal planes across the checkered floor, up the steps, past the pillars supporting the barrel vaulting, and into a domed area, which is indicated above the heads of Plato and Aristotle by the curved line under the window.

Color palette:

• Though the school of Athens is not necessarily defined by its use of color, its philosophical content displays a wide variety of colors.

Use of light:

• The separation between the concrete and the abstract in the School of Athens is developed by its lighting and figures. The lighting is very logical and consistent with reality. It comes from the direction of the window and fills the actual room. Mood, Tone and Emotion:

His cartoon of the School of Athens show the importance of maintaining the relationship between the figures but also the chiaroscuro effects that are so important for High Renaissance art.

Brush stroke:

• Raphael was a perfectly balanced painter and in the School of Athens he demonstrates flawless brush stroke. He used different drawings to refine his poses and compositions, to a greater extent than most other painters judging by the number of variants that survive to this day.

References 

Brown, Clare & Evans, Mark. Raphael: Cartoons and Tapestries for the Sistine Chapel. V & A Publishing 2010

Chapman, Hugo, et al. Raphael: From Urbino to Rome. National Gallery Company Ltd, 2008

 De Vecchi, Pier Luigi. Raphael. Abbeville Press Inc. , 2003