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Upon Raphael's submission of a draft of the fresco to the church fathers, the Bishop is alleged to have inquired as to the identity of a woman depicted at the bottom (front) and center of the sketch, between the figures of Heraclitus and Diogenes, “Who is this woman in the middle?” “Hypatia, the most famous student of the School of Athens ...
The identities of most figures are ambiguous or discernable only through subtle details or allusions; [1] among those commonly identified are Socrates, Pythagoras, Archimedes, Heraclitus, Averroes, and Zarathustra.
- 500 cm × 770 cm (200 in × 300 in)
- Raphael
- 1509–1511
- Plato and Aristotle. The two main figures in the work are placed directly under the archway and in the fresco’s vanishing point, a compositional trick to draw the viewer’s eye to the most important part of the painting.
- Socrates. To the left of Plato, Socrates is recognizable thanks to his distinct features. It’s said that Raphael was able to use an ancient portrait bust of the philosopher as his guide.
- Pythagoras. In the foreground, Pythagoras sits with a book and an inkwell, also surrounded by students. Though Pythagoras is well known for his mathematical and scientific discoveries, he also firmly believed in metempsychosis.
- Euclid. Mirroring Pythagoras’ position on the other side, Euclid is bent over demonstrating something with a compass. His young students eagerly try to grasp the lessons he’s teaching them.
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Nov 21, 2023 · The figure sat deep in thought in the foreground of the fresco (in a classic "thinking" position, with his head propped on his hand) has long been identified as Michelangelo. The School...
The School of Athens represents all the greatest mathematicians, philosophers and scientists from classical antiquity gathered together sharing their ideas and learning from each other. These figures all lived at different times, but here they are gathered together under one roof.
Oct 27, 2021 · Plato (left) and Aristotle (right) in Raphael’s The School of Athens (1509-1510); Raphael, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. There are dozens of figures presented here around the two philosophers, with their exact identities a subject of ongoing debate.
Jun 25, 2023 · Raphael’s fresco “The School of Athens” is rich with figures of prominent philosophers who are identified by their certain characteristic details. The identity of a figure in...