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"What was Raphael thinking
of when he painted this sumptuous hall? He was surely impressed by the
ancient Roman baths and palace constructions that were being newly uncovered
in his immediate vicinity during these years, and he may well have been
influence by the various palaces that were being planned and constructed
in Rome during this same period and that responded to the ancient ruins
in their own way. But beyond these general contexts, numerous scholars
have also brought Raphael's fresco into close connection with two
particular buildings. The
first is the new Basilica of San Pietro in the Vatican, which Raphael's
friend and teacher Bramante was planning at this very time. Giorgio
Vasari reported that Bramante helped Raphael with the architecture of
The School of Athens." (Most, 171-172)
"Finally, close study of
Raphael's fresco has revealed similarities in certain details between
his edifice and Bramante's plan. Raphael may well have drawn some
of his inspiration from Bramante, but in a number of crucial regards
Raphael's building is entirely different from anything that Bramante
could have conceived." (Most, 172)
"The attitude of Plato and Aristotle are emphasized by the medallions on the walls of the central hall of the painted architecture. The left one shows a man looking up, the right one a woman looking down at a globe. The front of the building is adorned with the statue of Apollo at the left and Athena at the right." (Gutman, 425)
"The relief under Apollo shows a struggle of men, and the one below is he triton overwhelming a nymph, both characterizing Apollo as the representative of reason triumphant over passion and lust. Under the feet of Athena a female allegorical figure representing Investigation is shown. Athena herself represents the spirit of science." (Gutman, 426)
"The angels of The School of Athens are wingless...In the Stanza della Segnatura, wingless angels...accompany the representations of human things, such as science, philosophy, human theology and human law, winged ones the representations of divine things, such as supernatural theology, poetry as divine inspiration(numine afflatur), and the divine law of Church." (Gutman, 427)
