Analyze Raphael's School of Athens art work (1509-1511 CE).
1. Description/Subject: As the introductory paragraph for your summary, this section should include
the artist, title, date, and medium of the work; a brief description of the work; a summary of the
story and/or subject
2. Formal Analysis: In this section, you will analyze the form of the work of art. The form is the
physical object, independent of any discussion of subject matter, interpretation, or context.
3. Interpretation: In this section, use evidence from the sources provided to draw conclusions
about what the work of art was intended to communicate to the viewers for whom it was
made. Focus on what the work of art meant in its time and place, not what it means to you
personally
4. Context: In this final section, use evidence from the sources provided to draw conclusions about
the historical, cultural, and/or artistic context of the work of art. The Subject, Formal Analysis,
and Interpretation sections investigate what a work
Sample Answer
Description/Subject
Raphael's School of Athens is a monumental fresco painted between 1509 and 1511 CE. It is located in the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City. The work depicts a grand, idealized gathering of history's most renowned philosophers, scientists, and mathematicians from classical antiquity. The central figures are Plato and Aristotle, walking side-by-side. The fresco's subject is a philosophical and intellectual convergence, a visual representation of the pursuit of knowledge. It honors the great thinkers of the past by bringing them together in a single, imagined space.
2. Formal Analysis
The School of Athens is a masterpiece of High Renaissance art, distinguished by its use of linear perspective, which creates a powerful illusion of depth. The vanishing point is precisely located between the two central figures, drawing the viewer's eye to Plato and Aristotle. The fresco is defined by a sense of balance and symmetry. The figures are arranged in a semicircular arch, echoing the architectural forms of the classical building they inhabit. Raphael uses light and shadow (chiaroscuro) to give the figures a three-dimensional, sculptural quality. The color palette is rich and harmonious, with deep reds, blues, and golds, which adds to the work's sense of grandeur. The graceful poses of the figures and their interaction create a sense of dynamic flow and intellectual energy.