The School of Athens (after Raphael)
1754
oil
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
About the artist
Artist
Anton Raphael Mengs
Anton Raphael Mengs (1778–1778) was an artist.
See the richer artist page1754
oil
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
The School of Athens (after Raphael) is a 1754 oil by Anton Raphael Mengs, a Neoclassicism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This painting copies Raphael’s famous fresco *The School of Athens*. Mengs made it in oil instead of wet plaster. His version fits a smaller canvas but keeps the same crowded scene. Mengs studied ancient Roman philosophy. He lined up thinkers like Plato and Aristotle in grand robes. The archways behind them push the eye deep into space. Look for how light and shadow play on the faces. It’s called chiaroscuro—strong contrast between light and dark to make shapes pop. Mengs, Anton Raphael
A full-scale copy of Raphael’s *School of Athens*, this painting depicts numerous figures in classical attire arranged in groups engaged in discussion or solitary contemplation within a grand architectural setting adorned with sculptures and an open sky. The composition centers on Plato and Aristotle, whose philosophical influence shaped Western thought from antiquity through the late 17th century. Originally commissioned by the Duke of Northumberland in 1749, the work was displayed in Northumberland House before being relocated and later donated to a museum in 1926. The scene exemplifies…
Read the full account in the museum source.
Anton Raphael Mengs (1778–1778) was an artist.
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