School of Athens-Raphael

Fresco in Julis's new apartments-project turned over to Raphael and work of artists previously commissioned removed
Becomes a game to locate and identify portraits of Raphael's contemporaries disguised as historical personages

Setting is spacious and monumental to balance out the history represented
Architecture includes massive vaults with hexagonal coffering based on the Basilica of Maxentius
Architectural clarity and depth of space
Based on architecture of Bramante

Statues of Appollo and Minerva-ancient gods of wisdom

Plato-holds Timaeus:origin of nature and the universe is the realm of the mind
Some believe Plato =representation of Leonardo daVinci

Aristotle holds Nichomachean Ethics:rational of humanity and need for moral behavior (earth=source)

Socrates-counts off points on his fingers:Socratic method
Surrounded by young men: Alcibiades (pupil of Socrates and trained in art of Rhetoric)

Epicurus-vine wreathed and rotund:purpose of philosophy is to attain a happy and tranquil life, characterized by ataraxia, peace and freedom from fear, and pain, and by living a self-sufficient life surrounded by friends

Pythagoras-shown calculating:Pythagorean theorem

Dogenes-isolated but commented upon, compositional punctuation (all other figures radiate around):made virtue of poverty and looked for "honest man,"modeled himself after Hercules with virtue revealed in actions not theory

Euclid-bent over calculating:"father" of geometry, work with perspective
Portrait of Bramante-Bramante's concern with geometry and centrally planned dome architecture
Homage to lessons Raphael received from Bramante
RVSM-only instance of artist signing name on other artist's portrait

Zoroaster-holding celestial sphere:purpose of humankind is to sustain asa (truth)

Ptolemy-holding Earthly sphere:horoscopic astrology, positioning of sun, moon and planets

Raphael-observer of Zoroaster and Ptolemy in black cap looking out to viewer:inviting viewer to take part in his work (find the hidden portraits)

Heraclitus-self-taught and pioneer of wisdom, "the obscure," the "weeping philosopher"
Painted as an afterthought-upon completion of the Sistine Chapel
portrait of Michelangelo
Psychologically isolated though surrounded by a society of great men
compare to Michelangelo's "Jeremiah" and Albrecht Durer's "Melencolia"
Meant to show how Michelangelo is an artistic genius who is isolated from the public and incredibly secretive-also indicates his reservations and withdrawal keep him from completing his work

     

-Emily