School of Athens an Illustration

¶ … School of Athens

An Illustration of Renaissance Thought

The European renaissance can be described as a synthesis of learning, an appreciation of antiquity, a rebellion against the religious infusion of the Middle Ages, and an emphasis on humanism. Although Guisepi argues that the Renaissance is ongoing because humanity is still progressing toward new heights, the accepted date of the European Renaissance, which began in Italy, is during the fourteenth century. While the Middle Ages had certainly seen many contributions to history and culture in the form of artwork, literature, and the like, the Renaissance was the era of innumerable contributions (Guisepi). While the emphasis of the Middle Ages was on God and the Church, the focus of the Renaissance returned to humans and their ability to create beauty, learn, and make scientific discoveries. While the Renaissance was not necessarily a denial of Christian ideas, it did shift power from God and Christ as the center of religion to humans as those who could evaluate and choose religions for themselves. In addition, to this principal of humanism, the Renaissance was characterized by an interest in antiquity, the classical learning of Greek and Rome. Renaissance scholars were interested in the methods through which the classical Greek and Roman teachers and learners had made their inquiries and discoveries. Thus, the European Renaissance can be described by many characteristics. Two of the most prominent, however, are an interest in antiquity and classical learning, as well as a focus on humanism.

Raphael's "The School of Athens" is blends perfectly these two characteristics in order to present a painting that is a nearly perfect depiction of the ideals behind the European Renaissance. The painting pictures over forty figures congregated at the Lyceum. The linear perspective allows Raphael to make the objects appear as if they are three-dimensional on the two dimensional canvas. Although not all of the figures can be identified, Plato and Aristotle are pictured on either side of the vanishing point to highlight their importance (Lahanas). According to Michael Lahanas, the figures featured in the painting suggest that Raphael "had some knowledge of Greek philosophy and Science. We can consider 'The School of Athens' as a 'visualization of knowledge.'" in addition to Plato and Aristotle, Euclid and Pythagoras are present among others. Lahanas even suggests that the painting may be a reproduction of Plato's Academy. This concept would emphasize a commitment to learning, as well as an interest in antiquity and classical learning. The architecture depicted is a "modification of Bramante's first design for St. Peter (Lahanas).