School of Athens

Form

• Open and clear light throughout the composition
• Balanced composition: figures are grounded, have shadows and are evenly distributed
• Raphiael paints each figure with chiaroscuro to show three-dimensionality
• Architecture is idealized for classical gymnasium inspired by roman bathhouse
• Combines one-point perspective and two-point
• Cartoon, perfect, large cartoon, position cartoon on wall, poder charcoal, this aids in making fresco

Function

• Commissioned by Pope Julius II to decorate his library on philosophy
• Humanist thought is joined with Church teachings
• Sign of education
• Imagine the types of people who would view this in the papal apartments

Left: liberal arts/ intangible/ ideal/ theoretical

Right: Math/ Science/ Tangible/ Practical Empirical

Context

• Far from idea as artist as craftsman, popes are now directly commissioning art
• Church had traditionally turned away from classical antiquity
• Shows us the classics are being taught in elite education
• Raphial displays idealism, humanism, and rationalism

Learning Objective

16th c. Southern Buon Fresco

Theme

Philosophy, status, power, commemoration