Essay Question

Utilizing this image, we are going to analyze the principles of design that the Renaissance artist Raphael used in his composition:

Write a short essay on all of the principles of design that Raphael uses in image 5.13A The School of Athens (1510-1511).  Try to identify as many as you can.  A good minimum number to strive for would be 5, but there are more.  Note that in reading about this image, Raphael places himself in the midst of a particular group of people.  Given that he associates himself - an artist! - with that group, can you also identify his usage of one of the compositional formulas (Golden Mean, Golden Rectangle, Root Five Rectangle, and/or Perspective described in pages 103-105)?  Identify one formula and explain how you know it is present in the image.  

Text Book: Fichner-Rathus – Understanding Art, 11th Edition ISBN: 9781285859293