Raphael's School of Athens Painting

Raphael not only created a masterpiece of paint and prime example of beautifully crafted art in the Renaissance; he also depicted themes central to this time period in one carefully constructed painting, the School of Athens.

Raphael’s School of Athens

The painting shows a large hallway that opens into an even larger common room, which was probably based on the painting’s namesake. The common area is huge and dotted with groups of people standing about, conversing with on another. In the center of the picture is a pair of men who appear to be especially wise and respected, entering the common area. There are about 30 or 40 other people in the common room, all of various ages, men and women alike.

School of Athens Indicates Renaissance’s Focus on Liberal Arts

This scene is indicative of several themes of the Renaissance. During this time period, a new emphasis was placed on education in the liberal arts. Thus, apart from those depicted conversing, there are also several people shown as casually drawing and writing.

Women Included in School of Athens

Included in the expansion of intellect throughout Europe were women. The painting depicts several women allowed into the school. Though one or two are still shown with children, this painting shows a major leap forward in the respect women held in the intellectual world. Thus, tere are two women shown side-by-side with men on the lower right side of the painting, all intently huddled over some kind of intriguing painting or other item of apparent interest.

School of Athens Indicates Respect of Education

The pair of men entering deserves some extra attention, though it is obvious that they are not supposed to be the only focus of the painting. They are important to note because they are dressed like everyone else yet it appears they gather more respect from the crowd than most people. The fact that these men get a little extra respect from the commoners while entering the School of Athens with an air of control shows a growing respect for education and wisdom of men in the Renaissance.

School of Athens Shows Shift from Theistic to Aesthetic

The fact that this painting was painted with great attention to perspective and accurate detail shows an emphasis on personal and real perspective, rather than the theistic perspective that was characteristic of the Middle Ages. The painting looks realistic to the modern eye.

These important details helped Raphael not only paint a stunning visual, but also to depict the Renaissance era and the themes central to its outstanding reign in history.

Other Renaissance Paintings

Baptism of Christ: by the Renaissance "dream team" of Verrocchio and Leonardo da Vinci.

Raphael's School of Athens

Print Article

Email Article

View All Articles

How to subscribe to feeds