raphael reflects humanism
From 1509 to 1512, Rafael Sanzio created The School of Athens, a fresco that famously reflects the humanistic interpretations of the Italian Renaissance. This magnificent work is located in the Stanza della Segnatara in the Vatican at Rome, the city Rafael died in April of 1526. At a young age Rafael traveled to Florence, where the Renaissance began, he was influenced by Leonardo da Vinci, Plato, and Aristotle, as well as Socrates, Plutarch and many other great writers, philosophers and theologians. In The School of Athens Rafael depicts these men and very intricately reflects the thoughts and politics of the Renaissance. "The extent of Raphael's style is equally prodigious in its interpretation of the most complex stories, the episodical significance of which is transcend into moments of form and light" (Camesasca 9). There is a very definite connection to humanism in this fresco. Humanism "included a great diversity of emphasis and underwent constant change...the noted scholar Paul Joachimsen proposed a simple and fairly concrete definition of humanism as an intellectual movement primarily literary and philosophical...rooted in the love and desire for the rebirth of clas
sical antiquity." (Kingdon 154). The School of Athens is the glorification of the pre-Christian world as it was understood in the early 15th century. The philosophy that modern views of science, math, fine arts, and the human nature could be derived from theology and religion, is portrayed by the use of famous scientists, mathematicians, artists, writers and philosophers in the School of Athens, which was titled well after it was completed. The most outstanding scene in this fresco makes the biggest connection between wisdom and religion. This is the scene in the center of the piece where the vanishing point is. Plato, the one pointing up, and Aristotle, the one gesturing toward the earth, are walking together. Plato is referring to Christ and the divine while Aristotle, a disciple of the scientific method, is gesturing toward life on earth and represents science. This scene joins the two ideas together that represent the main theme supporting humanism, wisdom from divinity. The cool colors blues, and off-whites are in clear distinction to the light browns and golden hues in the marble , and emphasize logic as opposed to theological views. Throughout the painting there are
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Approximate Word count = 794
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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