Raphael Sanzio 1483-1520

Madonna of the Meadow (Belvedere) Typical arrangement of figures Pyramidal configuration Mary with baby Jesus and baby John (the Baptist)

Saint Barbara, patron saint of wars, looks like da Vinci’s madonnas Sistine Madonna 1512 8’8” x 6’5” Oil on Canvas Saint Barbara, patron saint of wars, looks like da Vinci’s madonnas Saint Sixtus (Sistine Chapel named for him) resembles Pope Julius II; pointing to us, pulling us in Green Curtains (papal color) and Papal tiara with acorns (Julius’ symbol) Sfumato creates a luscious atmosphere 2 saints foreshortened

Da Vinci’s tender understanding of human emotion Michelangelo’s understanding of dynamic life and emotion through physicality

Pope Julius II

Raphael Santi, The Alba Madonna (82 K) 1511 Oil on canvas, diameter 98 cm

Madonna and Child with St. John

Madonna with the Goldfinch

Tempi Madonna. 1507-1508.

The Small Cowper Madonna. c.1505. Oil on wood. The National Gallery of Art, Washington DC

Madonna Connestabile. c.1503-1504

RAPHAEL Stanza della Segnatura The School of Athens Fresco (1510-1511) 26’ x 18’ One of Raphael’s most outstanding works Office of the Vatican Palace - Rome Office of the Vatican palace is where documents requiring the pope’s signature were prepared The painting celebrates classical thought, but it is also dedicated to the liberal arts, symbolized by the statues of Apollo and Minerva. Grammar, Arithmetic and Music are personified by figures located in the foreground, at left. Geometry and Astronomy are personified by the figures in the foreground, at right. Behind them stand characters representing Rhetoric and Dialectic. Some of the ancient philosophers bear the features of Raphael's contemporaries. Bramante is shown as Euclid (in the foreground, at right, leaning over a tablet and holding a compass). Leonardo is, as we said, probably shown as Plato. Francesco Maria Della Rovere appears once again near Bramante, dressed in white. Michelangelo, sitting on the stairs and leaning on a block of marble, is represented as Heraclitus. A close examination of the intonaco shows that Heraclitus was the last figure painted when the fresco was completed, in 1511. The allusion to Michelangelo is probably a gesture of homage to the artist, who had recently unveiled the frescoes of the Sistine Ceiling. Raphael - at the extreme right, with a dark hat - and his friend, Sodoma, are also present (they exemplify the glorification of the fine arts and they are posed on the same level as the liberal arts).

The school of Athens is a highly symbolic homage to philosophy that complements Raphael’s similar frescoes in the same room that symbolize poetry, law and theology. Sets the great philosophers of antiquity in an immense illusionistic architectural framework inspired by the ruins of Roman baths and basilicas and perhaps by the new Saint Peter’s which was under construction. Occupying the center of the fresco, in places of honor framed by the receding lines of the architecture as a device to focus the viewer’s eye are the two greatest Greek philosophers, Plato and Aristotle. Plato holds a copy of the Timaeus (an account of the creation of the cosmos and everything in it) in one hand and with the other points to the heavens, the realm of ideal forms. Aristotle holds a copy of his Ethics and points to the earth, where his science of empirical observation must begin. Clustered about the two philosophers in varying poses and at various distances are other great figures of antiquity. Diogenes sprawls in front of the philosophers Pythagoras calculates on a slate Ptolemy holds an earthly globe Euclid uses his compass and is actually an idealized portrait of Raphael;s Roman protector, the architect Bramante The School of Athens reflects a high degree of sensitivity to ordered space, a complete ease with classical thought, obvious inspiration form Roman architectural past a brilliant sense of color and form, and a love for intellectual clarity—characteristics that could sum up the Renaissance ideal. The papal court of Julius II shard the humanist conviction that philosophy is the servant of theology and that beauty, even if derived from a pagan civilization is a gift of God and not to be despised. To underscore this point, Raphael’s homage to theology across the room, his fresco called the Disputa, shows in a panoramic from similar to the School of Athens the efforts of theologians to penetrate divine mystery.

Plato & Aristotle Plato – Even though all art is imitation art can embody the eternal form of beauty. Plato believes that beauty is the one eternal form that can be attained through our senses. Beauty is said to be the qualities of measure and proportion and since beauty is based on measure it ranks highly in the lists of goods. So art can be good if it embodies the form of beauty. Plato defines art as all skills in making or doing. So all art forms are included in his discussions, from tool making and carpentry, to music, poetry and dance. Aristotle – Displayed an intellect of incredible versatility. . .Politics, drama, poetry, physics, medicine, psychology, history, logic, astronomy, ethics, natural history, mathematics, rhetoric, biology - these were but a few dishes in the diversified banquet with which the young student tried to feed his voracious appetite for learning. Plato once humorously remarked that his Academy consisted of two parts - the body of his students, and the brain of Aristotle Aristotle was influenced to some degree by Socrates, as well as immeasurably by Plato, whom he studied under while at the Academy. His legacy, just as noble as that of Socrates and Plato, has undoubtedly had a major influence on all of philosophy thenceforth.

Diogenes or Socrates Diogenes - Fully adopted the principles and character of his master. Renouncing every other object of ambition, he distinguished himself by his contempt of riches and honors and by his invectives against luxury. He wore a coarse cloak, carried a wallet and a staff, made the porticoes and other public places his habitation, and depended upon casual contributions for his daily bread. Socrates – Some believe this to be Socrates. He preceded both Plato and Aristotle and was the forerunner of philosophy. He developed the Socratic method of finding the answers through questions. Many believe the cup on the step to his right is the representing the bowl he used for his execution (drinking of hemlock). Many believe this character is a tribute to Michelangelo, whom Raphael greatly admired. This personage was changed from the original cartoon and is stylistically dramatically different then the other characters. It is said that Michelangelo would not allow anyone to see the Sistine Chapel during the 4 years of its creation. Raphael supposedly entered the locked chapel one night and was so impressed that he reformatted this character from its original form. Diogenes or Socrates

Zeno and Heraclitus (Michelangelo) Stoicism was founded in the 4th century bc by a philosopher named Zeno of Citium. It has been accredited as one of the most important and influential philosophical traditions, and it is also though that it was very influential in the development of Christianity. The word stoic now typically refers to one who is very philosophical, or to the ability to stay calm and courageous in times of strife. Stoicism prized quite a few basic values. The ones we will discuss are the importance of a mental state of tranquility, and the idea of resignation. Tranquility of the mind was very important to the stoics, and was defined as a state of mind in which someone is at peace with himself and the world around him. If someone wished to achieve this state, he must be in harmony with nature, and be able to control his will. Heraclitus – Heraclitus seems to reflect an aristocratic disdain for the masses and favor the rule of a few wise men According to both Plato and Aristotle, Heraclitus held extreme views that led to logical incoherence. For he held that (1) everything is constantly changing and (2) opposite things are identical, so that (3) everything is and is not at the same time. In other words, Universal Flux and the Identity of Opposites entail a denial of the Law of Non-Contradiction. Plato indicates the source of the flux doctrine: "Heraclitus, I believe, says that all things go and nothing stays, and comparing existents to the flow of a river, he says you could not step twice into the same river" Zeno and Heraclitus (Michelangelo)

Ptolemy and Zoroaster Zoroaster - front - holds a celestial sphere. Ptolemy holds the earthly globe representing the Geocentric theory that was commonly adopted and encouraged throughout the Catholic church. Zoroaster holds the celestial globe representing his belief in a higher being controlling our universe Ptolemy and Zoroaster Zoroaster - front - holds a celestial sphere. Ptolemy, - back - holds an earth sphere.

Euclid uses his compass and is actually an idealized portrait of Raphael;s Roman protector, the architect Bramante Euclid

Pythagoras Pythagoras calculates on a slate Pythagoras believed that all things are numbers. He discovered that beautiful sounds have an inherent mathematical order and from that concluded that numbers are the key to order in nature as a whole. One Greek contribution to mathematics is its development as a theoretical discipline (generalizations and use of proofs), and this may have happened through the discovery of irrationals.

Parmenides Parmenides taught that the world of sense - consisting of motion and plurality - is an illusion and false. True being is absolutely one; there is in it no plurality or multiplicity. True being is absolutely static and unchangeable and there is no motion.

Averroes & Raphael

Stanza della Segnatura

La Disputa

Parnassus

Four Cardinal Virtues

The Triumph of Galatea

Caravaggio, Judith en Holofernes

Artemisia Gentileschi, Judith Slaying Holofernes 1612-1613

Caravaggio Artemisia Gentileschi,