The School of Athens by Rafael, 1509-1510.

The School of Athens by Rafael, 1509-1510.

The School of Athens was painted by Rafael, who has been considered one of the greatest artists during the Renaissance, during 1509-1510. “It is a fresco in the Stanze di Raffaello rooms” (The School of Athens by Rafael, arthistoryguide.com) in the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican. With the other three paintings depicting each theme of knowledge. The School of Athens is Philosophy. The painting shows almost all of the Greek philosophers working hard, trying to understand the philosophy. On the vanishing point at the center of the painting are Plato and Aristotle. Plato, symbolizing the old thoughts, is pointing up to the Heaven, saying that God is the one. While Aristotle “who is shown at the peak of manhood,” (The School of Athens by Rafael, arthistoryguide.com) symbolizing the upcoming of new generation, is pointing to the ground, saying that human is superior over God. Showing “the great debate between Idealism versus Realism.” (The School of Athens by Rafael, arthistoryguide.com)

There are five techniques used in the Renaissance art. Firstly, the use of perspective, in The School of Athens, Rafael painted it as he walked in to the big hall looking straight forward to the vanishing point, which connected to the second technique, foreshortening. Foreshortening “refers to the artistic effect of shortening lines in a drawing so as to create an illusion of depth;” (Romanticism, Wikipedia.org) the area far back is a little bit foggy and lighter than the area in the front. Thirdly, Sfumato, which was developed by Leonard da Vinci. In the painting, many of the lines are unclear and blurry; there are some unclear shadows between philosophers and the objects next to them, leaving us to imagine what’s in there. Fourthly, Chiaroscuro: the arch in front has the great light contrast with the hall in the back. And lastly, balance and proportion: philosophers and statues in the painting are proportional to each other and to the building.

The School of Athens is showing philosophers during the Renaissance, which is the shifting away from God, and moving toward reality. There’s a painting of angels on the dome’s ceiling, and various Gods’ statues in the building. Aristotle is pointing downward to the earth, while Plato is pointing upward to the Heaven, connecting to the theme, the connection between humans and the divines.