ArtOdysseys: Raphael’s ‘School of Athens’ in the Vatican Museum

Completed in 1511, Raphael's "School of Athens" decorates one of four walls in the Stanza della Segnatura, one of four rooms in a suite of apartments intended for Pope Julius II.  Now part of the Vatican Musuem, this academic gathering of history's most brilliant is accessible to everyone and it's wonderful!  Photo: WikiMedia Commons.  

Welcome to the ArtSmart Roundtable! Each month, the Roundtable—a group of travel bloggers / art aficionados who are passionate about discovering art while exploring destinations around the world, publish this monthly series that highlights a particular art-related subject. January’s topic is wall paintings and when I think of wall paintings, I can’t help but think of the magnificent frescoes that decorate many a chapel, museum, city hall—among others, throughout Europe and the rest of the world. Topping my list of favorite frescoes are Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel of course, but I’ve already written about the agony and ecstasy of the Sistine so I thought I would shift my focus to my second favorite Renaissance artist Raphaello Sanzio da Urbino or more commonly known as Raphael! I hope you enjoy this closer look at Raphael’s “School of Athens” and the next time you’re in Rome, make sure you set aside time in your itinerary to visit the Vatican Museums to see this master stroke of genius up close and personal.

Ever since Art History classes when my love affair with Renaissance was born, I have been captivated by Raphael’s frescoes in the Vatican Museum. Decorating the walls of the Stanze di Raphaello or Raphael Rooms, specifically the Stanza della Segnatura, the “School of Athens” depicts a grand gathering of the most brilliant minds of ancient history—some personified by the leading artists of the Renaissance including Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo.

Completed in 1511, 500 years ago, Raphael’s “School of Athens,” measuring in at a colossal 25' wide and 17' tall, hangs in what was intended to become a suite of apartments for Pope Julius II. Raphael, 25 when he arrived in Rome, was commissioned by the Pope to begin decorating the suite beginning with the Stanza della Segnatura. Actually the second of the frescoes to be completed after “La Disputa” on the opposing wall, the “School of Athens” depicts the school of philosophy and the love of higher learning. While many of the figures’ identities cannot be positively identified because Raphael never produced a legend for his painting, scholars have speculated based on their physical resemblance, save the few personified by the Renaissance masters; and the poses in which Raphael cast his leading men. However, we are certain about a select few including the painting’s central figures and even Raphael himself.

1: Zeno of Citium 2: Epicurus 3: unknown 4: Boethius or Anaximander or Empedocles? 5: Averroes 6: Pythagoras 7: Alcibiades or Alexander the Great? 8: Xenophon 9: unknown [14][13] or the Fornarina as a personification of Love [15] or (Francesco Maria della Rovere?) 10: Aeschines or Xenophon? 11: Parmenides? 12: Socrates 13: Heraclitus (Michelangelo) 14: Plato (Leonardo da Vinci) 15: Aristotle 16: Diogenes 17: Plotinus (Donatello?) 18: Euclid with students (Bramante?) 19: Zoroaster 20: Ptolemy? R: Apelles (Raphael) 21: Protogenes (Il Sodoma, Perugino, or Timoteo Viti). Photo: WikiMedia Commons.

Ironically, the “School of Athens” is set within Roman architectural elements inspired by Constantine’s colossal basilica in the Roman Forum. Flanking the central figures in the background are two sculptures that reveal the inspiration for this setting: Apollo, god of archery, light and music, to the left and Minerva, goddess of wisdom, on the right. As for our cast of characters, it would take volumes to discuss each one pictured in the “School of Athens” so let me point out a few of the more noteworthy members of this academic congregation. I think you’ll find it fascinating to say the least.

Plato and Aristotle, our leading men form the central focal point in Raphael's "School of Athens." Photo property of EuroTravelogue™.  Unauthorized use is prohibited.

Our central central focal point is comprised of our leading men: Plato and Aristotle. On the left stands Plato who is depicted as the great Leonardo and clutched in his left hand is his “Timaeus” while his right hand points toward the heavens—a symbolic nod to the book and its arguments for the physical world as well as the eternal. Standing next to him is the much younger Aristotle at the prime of manhood and in his left hand is his “Ethics.” His right-hand gesture symbolizes the positive spirit and the practical living of the here and now.

To the left, we find the founder of western philosophy Socrates. Modeled after the famous marble bust of the first century, Socrates is seen here in his long green robe and gesturing toward Xenophon and other fellow philosophers.

Socrates pictured here in the green robe is modeled after the famous bust dating back to the first century.  Photo: WikiMedia.org.

Just below Socrates and to the left, stands a figure in white flowing robes that according to the Vatican Museum is Francesco Maria Della Rovere, one of the Dukes of Urbino, however, some scholars believe this figure represents the manifestation for the “love of higher learning.”

Francesco Maria Della Rovere is pictured here in white flowing robes. Some scholars believe this figure represents the manifestation for the 'love of higher learning.' In front of Francesco, is Pythagoras teaching from his book. Photo: WikiMedia.org.

Moving down and a little further to the left, we find Pythagoras shown seated and teaching from with book. A philosopher and mathematician, Pythagoras is most famous for his Pythagorean Theorem in geometry. [Suddenly horrific flashes of my dreaded high-school Geometry classes flood my mind].

Toward the center and at the same level, we find Heraclitus, the “weeping philosopher.” Aptly named because of his lonely life and his contempt for humankind, [Reminds me of Scrooge] Heraclitus is personified by none other than Michelangelo. Originally, Heraclitus was not included in Raphael’s chalk cartoon but added later in tribute to the great Michelangelo after having seen his work on the Sistine Chapel.

Heraclitus, the “weeping philosopher”; so called because of the lonely life he led and his contempt for humankind, is personified by none other than Michelangelo. Photo: WikiMedia Commons.

Still at this lower level and to the right in a hunched-over position, we see Euclid, the “Father of Geometry” in his crimson robe and holding his compass. What’s particularly fascinating about this figure is that he modeled after Bramante, the architect hired by Pope Julius II to complete Saint Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, and the person responsible for bringing Raphael to Rome in the first place. If you look carefully at the back collar of his tunic, you will find Raphael’s signature: R.V.S.M. meaning Raphael Urbinas Sua Manu.

Euclid, pictured here, takes on the physical characteristics of Bramante, Pope Julius II's master architect overseeing the completion of Saint Peter's Basilica. Photo: Property of EuroTravelogue™.  Unauthorized use is prohibited.

Last but certainly not least is the master artist Raphael himself who makes an appearance in the lower right standing behind a group of scholars nearest to the edge of the scene of the painting. He’s the only person peering directly out to the viewer—rather uncannily at that.

Raphael peers directly out to his audience in the "School of Athens" fresco inside the Vatican Museum.  Photo property of EuroTravelogue™.  Unauthorized use is prohibited. 

I hope you enjoyed this introduction to Raphael’s “School of Athens” at the Vatican Museum in Rome! If you want to see and find out more about this masterpiece and the rest of these scholarly gents, visit the Vatican Museum for an amazing virtual tour through the Stanza della Segnatura and the rest of the Raphael Rooms.

ArtSmart Roundtable Features:

• The Cyclorama in Atlanta by Erin Halvey.  
• Frescoes in Florence, Italy by Jenna Francisco.  
• Frescoes, Wall Art and the Test of Time by Kelly Goodman.  
• Fresco Rescue and the Problem of Venice by Leslie Guettler.