School of Athens
Created from 1509 to 1511 by Italian artist Raphael
The School of Athens is a famous painting by the Italian artist Raphael and is considered one of the greatest masterpieces of the High Renaissance. It depicts a group of the most influential philosophers, mathematicians, and thinkers of ancient Greece, and is organized around two central figures, Plato and Aristotle. Around these two central figures are many other famous philosophers and scholars, including Socrates, Pythagoras, Euclid, and Archimedes. Each figure is depicted in a way that reflects their unique contributions to their fields. The architecture of the setting is also significant, with the central arch representing the entrance to a Greek temple. The figures are placed on either side of this arch, with the philosophers and mathematicians on the left and the poets and artists on the right. Overall, The School of Athens is a stunning example of Renaissance art, which celebrates the intellectual and artistic achievements of ancient Greece. Through its composition and the portrayal of its figures, the painting conveys the importance of knowledge and the pursuit of truth, values that are still relevant today.