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The School of Athens by Raphael: Great Art Explained

2025-07-18 Film & Animation
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Great Art Explained
Great Art Explained
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The first 1,000 people to click the link will get a full year of Premium membership to Craftsy for only $1.49: https://go.craftsy.com/greatartexplained/ My other channel, Great Books Explained here - https://www.youtube.com/@greatbooksexplained371 Please consider supporting this channel on Patreon (and getting exclusive content), thanks! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=53686503 or if you prefer a one-off donation - https://paypal.me/GreatArtExplained?country.x=GB&locale.x=en_GB Alternatively, every video has a "thanks" button under it- I appreciate it! In the early 1500s, two of the greatest artists of all time were working just a few rooms apart in the Vatican. Michelangelo was painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel at the same time Raphael was working on a painting in the Pope’s private library: The School of Athens. Both are considered masterpieces of the Renaissance. Michelangelo’s work sets out to reveal divine truth through the human form, while Raphael’s work celebrates human intellect and classical heritage. Two defining ideas of the Renaissance. Michelangelo, a brooding, difficult loner, paints figures charged with emotion and tension, figures who often struggle alone and who are deeply introspective. By contrast Raphael was sociable, charming and widely adored, and his work is balanced, serene and idealised. His figures are elegant, calm, engaged, and intellectually poised. The sort of company the artist surrounded himself with in real life. IMPORTANT! Subscribe and click the bell icon to be notified! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCePD... I would like to thank all my Patreon supporters, in particular Alan Stewart, Alexander Velser, Alyssa Phillips, AMSN, Anja Zeutschel, Bria Nicole Art, David Asabreu, Christa Sawyer, Eric Mann, Erique K, Francis Song, Griffin Evans, Hugo Moita, Jemma Theivendran, John Baer, Jon Hanzen, Julio Cardenas, Karim Hopper, Kibibi Shaw, Louise Tait, Monte St Johns, New Curiosity, Paul Ark, Paul Waterman, Sagar Saxena, Sean Welgemoed, Stefan Paisson, Stephen Beresford, Tanya Moore, Theresa Garfink, Toni Ko, Tyler Wittreich, and Will Dew's-Power. "What a brilliant series this is" - Stephen Fry on Twitter (X) CREDITS Script co-written by Laura Beardsell-Moore Opening Animation and Title Sequence by Brian Adsit (instagram https://instagram.com/brian_vfx?utm_m... and Behance www.behance.com/badsit88) Recording by Robert Lewis VIDEOS All the videos, songs, images, and graphics used in the video belong to their respective owners and I or this channel do not claim any right over them. MUSIC Ave Maria Tocccata for Harpsichord in G Minor by Alessandro Scarlatti BOOKS The Invention of the High Renaissance by Christof Thoenes Raphael by David Ekserdjian , Tom Henry, et al. Raphael (World of Art) by Paul Joannides Raphael's 'School of Athens' (Masterpieces of Western Painting) by Marcia Hall Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.

Top Comments (10)

@Wyattinous 2025-07-18

I’ll be honest I’ve only ever known this one painting, I didn’t know it was part of 4 scenes (4 ceiling guides included). You did a fantastic job explaining everything.

416 4 replies
@ccdecker 2025-07-18

Another one absolutely knocked out of the park. I had actual chills and even teared up a little when you arrived at the final conclusions about Michelangelo. Thank you!

402 5 replies
@Dakotajim2025 2025-07-19

I like this part so much I am writing it here: 23:21 "...Raphael reminded us that opposites are not necessarily contradictions, but parts of a unified whole. He draws connections between old and new, the ideal and the worldly, between theology and science, and rivalry and kinship. That perhaps is the true legacy of the school of Athens. It's not just a celebration of knowledge, but an invitation to live with and even enjoy complexity and nuance, to recognise that difference need not mean division."

187 4 replies
@FamousADHD 2025-07-18

This video happens to come out the day I saw it in person at the Vatican Museum.

115 2 replies
@rickb3078 2025-07-18

This is a masterclass of explanation

106 3 replies
@karlkartoffel294 2025-07-18

I was at the vatican museum in march, the room with this painting was great but I wish I had seen a great explanation like this before visiting. There was so much thought and detail that I missed.

105 1 replies
@alexanderK64 2025-07-18

A most delightful 25 minutes spent on YouTube with this narration, that, like all others on this channel sheds new light on the familiar and reintroduces us to the classics in a most interesting and fascinating way.... What a time to be alive this would have been...when three of the most amazing minds and artists that ever lived, would be working in so close proximity and all trying to outdo each other...and, as a result, they redefined the world of knowledge, art, and artistic expression for ever more... Absolutely unsurpassed... Thank you James, for another most generous gift...

75 1 replies
@LosChudos 2025-07-18

Thank you for covering this

47 1 replies
@GreatArtExplained 2025-07-20

The first 1,000 people to click the link will get a full year of Premium membership to Craftsy for only $1.49: https://go.craftsy.com/greatartexplained/

27 2 replies
@shubhamnema8281 2025-07-19

Art is a celebration of time. Nothing in the world entice me more than subtle metaphors, your videos are always a great revelation.

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