Media Information

 
 
 
Collection:
ADJUNCT MODULE A: ITALIAN ART
Preferred Title:
Stanza della Segnatura: School of Athens
Alternate Title:
School of Athens
Image View:
Detail, group at left; standing man in white sometimes identified as Francesco Maria della Rovere; man in yellow possibly Parmenides?
Creator:
Raphael (Italian painter, 1483-1520)
Location:
repository: Musei Vaticani (Rome (Vatican City), Santa Sede (Holy See), Italy)
Location Note:
Vatican Apartments, Stanza della Segnatura
GPS:
41.906389 12.454444
Date:
ca. 1509-1511 (creation)
Cultural Context:
Italian
Style Period:
Renaissance
Work Type 1:
fresco (painting)
Classification:
painting
Material:
pigment on plaster
Technique:
fresco painting (technique)
Measurements:
770 cm (width, at base)
Description:
The iconography of the room is based on Philosophy, Poetry, Theology, and Justice; this panel represents rational Truth (Philosophy). The most famous philosophers of ancient times move within an imposing Renaissance architecture which is inspired by Bramante's project for the renewal of the early Christian basilica of St Peter. Some of these are easily recognizable. In the center Plato points upwards with a finger and holds his book Timeus in his hand, flanked by Aristotle with Ethics; Pythagoras is shown in the foreground intent on explaining the diatesseron. Diogenes is lying on the stairs with a dish, while the pessimist philosopher, Heracleitus, a portrait of Michelangelo, is leaning against a block of marble, writing on a sheet of paper. On the right we see Euclid, who is teaching geometry to his pupils, Zoroaster holding the heavenly sphere and Ptolemy holding the earthly sphere. The personage on the extreme right with the black beret is a self-portrait of Raphael. It was Vasari who first claimed some of the figures were also contemporary portraits. (Source: Vatican Museums (Musei Vaticani) [website]; http://mv.vatican.va /)
Collection:
Adjunct Module A: Italian Art
Identifier:
7A1-RS-VM-SA-D14
Rights:
© Scott Gilchrist, Archivision, Inc.

Stanza della Segnatura: School of Athens