The School of Athens

The story

Raphael painted The School of Athens between 1509 and 1511 in the Stanza della Segnatura at the Vatican. Every ancient philosopher is portrayed as a specific person from Raphael's Rome. Plato is Leonardo. Heraclitus, the sulking figure on the steps, is Michelangelo. Euclid demonstrating a theorem is Bramante. Raphael painted himself at the far right, looking out at us. Now at the Vatican Museums. Now at Vatican Museums, Vatican City @vaticanmuseums

The reel
The painting
The School of Athens, Raphael