Raphael painted The School of Athens in the Vatican’s Stanza della Segnatura.
Raphael created the fresco between 1509 and 1511 as part of the decoration of the room commissioned by Pope Julius II. The composition presents an idealized gathering of ancient philosophers, including Plato and Aristotle at its center, beneath a grand architectural setting.
The figures are not intended as a literal historical meeting. Instead, Raphael used recognizable philosophers to represent the pursuit of knowledge and the intellectual traditions valued by Renaissance humanism. Plato is commonly given Leonardo da Vinci’s features, while other figures have been linked to contemporary artists, though some identifications remain debated.
The Stanza della Segnatura contains four major thematic frescoes associated with theology, philosophy, poetry, and law. The School of Athens represents philosophy and is distinct from Raphael’s entire four-room Vatican decoration.