 |
| School of Athens by Raphael 1509-1511 |
The word "Renaissance" translates to the English word "Rebirth." While from a simple standpoint, it can seem like arts and literature had resurfaced after a long time of it not being as culturally prevalent, it also brought back ancient classical era schools of thought, which influenced artwork of the time. In some artworks, it is fairly obvious, such as School of Athens by Raphael. It is a fresco that incorporates linear perspective, incredible detail, and a plethora of alliteration. It features Greek Philosophers such as Socrates, Pythagoras, Euclid, and Ptolemy. The whole painting is slightly chaotic, however the figures in the center are calm and relaxed. On each side of the painting are statues: One of Apollo, the god of music and art, and on the other is Athena, the goddess of wisdom.
To understand the artwork in itself, one has to understand the figures and ideas behind the people and figures. To me, it signifies an appreciation of both art and knowledge, combining the two into something that can work harmoniously. I believe that to be a successful artist, you do have to be knowledgeable in many things. In order to be the best at figures, you must have an understanding of human anatomy, and you need to know proportions, lighting, and so many other things in order to bring something so delicate to life. If I were to have an office, I would more than likely have a copy of School of Athens hanging in it, in appreciation that art and education can have with one another.
SOURCES:
"Renaissance Humanism Definition Overview and Analysis". [Internet]. 2021. TheArtStory.org
Content compiled and written by Rebecca Seiferle
Edited and revised, with Summary and Accomplishments added by Kimberly Nichols
Available from: https://www.theartstory.org/definition/renaissance-humanism/
First published on 19 Oct 2019. Updated and modified regularly
[Accessed 15 Feb 2021]
I also did my blog on The School of Athens! I think that it is a beautiful piece - I especially appreciate the harmony between all of the colors. They are all relatively muted and there is an underlying warm tone that makes the piece read as very connected. I also love how the piece is filled with rich symbolism and representation - as you pointed out, the figures are very important! The figures also help represent the strong connection to humanist values. The two central figures are Plato and Aristotle, and it is thought that they represent the division between philosophical ideas that was present at the time. Another important aspect to point out is that all of the figures represented in the painting have a Greek or Roman origin, something that was also very connected to humanist values. I found this great article that looks at some of the specific figures and why they are included, if you are interested! https://mymodernmet.com/school-of-athens-raphael/
ReplyDeleteRobert,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your perspective on Raphael's School of Athens piece. It truly embodies what humanism is. The focus is on the "subject matter"(Artyfactory). It also shows the social value of humanism. Your interpretation of this piece is outstanding!!! I would have never thought of the painting as being an "appreciation of both art and knowledge" based on the figures of Athena and Apollo. It is truly a motivating piece. Especially how you said they "can work harmoniously", which is shown. I would like to add the use of chiaroscuro in this painting that Raphael used during this time. He did this by highlighting to mark the point "where the light is being reflected most directly" which is where the man lying on the steps is. As your eye moves further down the painting, you can see the light almost fading into a darker color as the light is not directly on them but still reflecting. This was done to create the illusion of three dimensional solid forms from two dimensional piece of art.
http://studiochalkboard.evansville.edu/s-chiaro.html
https://www.artyfactory.com/art_appreciation/art_movements/italian-renaissance/italian-renaissance-art-humanism.html