The School of Athens is the most famous Raphael's masterpiece. Among numerous artworks of Renaissance it is unanimously recognized the best one.
In the center are great thinkers Aristotle and Plato. Plato wears a red cloak and resembles Leonardo da Vinci. He puts up his hands. It refers to his vision and scientific views, according to which ideas develop on heaven. Aristotle in blue dress points downwards, asserting that ideas are inextricably linked with terrestrial life.
The fresco shows the great thinkers of the past – Socrates flanked by Plato and Diogenes lying on the stairs. In the foreground, at the bottom, is Pythagoras surrounded by pupils. Thoughtful Heracleitus is in the center, Euclid holding a compass is flanked by Zoroaster and Ptolemy talking to their pupils.
Raphael masterfully places about fifty personages in the fresco, paying due attention to each figure and giving considerable roles to all of them. In addition, he arranges his personages following the logic, but preserving their individual characteristics.
Michelangelo is reported to have visited the hall of frescoes and have recognized himself in the portrait of Heracleitus. He was very satisfied that Raphael portrayed him far away from the crowd of disputing windbags.
Original author’s text, preserved unchanged.