Philosophy

Raphael peeking out from a corner of Philosophy (School of Athens)


For me, this is one of the most entertaining little bits of Renaissance art I have seen. on a wall in the Vatican museums, sits a large fresco depicting in the centre Aristotle and Plato. The two philosophers divide the work. On either side are dozens of notable philosophers, thinkers, and inovators who are depicted as being adherents to either the Platonic or Aristotlean line of thought. In a corner of Plato's side, Raphael painted himself, cheekily hobnobbing with a rather auspicious crowd.