One of a series of four Vatican frescos, Raphael's School of Athens represents human reason and decorates a branch of the Papal library and study, which was to be the center of the Pope's life where he would meditate on theology and decide on action.
In the center are two philosophers: Plato the idealist who points upwards for divine inspiration; to the left are philosophers of intuition and emotion searching for truth. Aristotle "the man of good sense" stands beside Plato holding out a moderating hand; to the right are rational philosophers of logic, grammar, geometry.
- Lord Clark [1903-1983] on the 27 year old Raphael [1483-1520] and how his fresco work was influenced by the eight years senior Michelangelo [1475-1564]
An earlier reference on this blog to Raphael's School of Athens here.
