School of Athens

(Raphael 1483 - 1520)

 

  

Plato’s finger points

past the cloud-wisped

blue but Aristotle

 

gestures towards the earth

for art, poetry

and philosophy, are here.

 

You take me by the hand,

friend, artist, creator

of this afternoon place.

 

Beneath classical arches

we tread a symmetry

of fawn and beige, pass

 

Pythagoras, and Michelangelo

slouching on the stairs.

If I asked,

 

could you take me

beyond the vanishing point 

to stroll by lily-covered pools?

 

 

 

 

Author's Note

Raphael was working on this fresco at the same time as Michelangelo was painting the Sistine Ceiling. Many of the philosophers in the School of Athens are contemporary figures Leonardo Di Vinci is represented as Plato. The figure of Raphael stares out from from the lower right corner of the painting. It is Raphael I address in this poem. It is believed that the figure sitting on the stairs is Michelangelo, represented as Heraclitus. The original cartoons do not show this figure. According to legend he was added after Raphael popped down the corridor and sneaked a peek at the frescoes that were currently being painted on the Sistine Ceiling .

Reviews

[Dave "Doc" Rogers]

I am not a very good judge of this style of poetry. I read through twice and I couldn't seem to find the rhythm of it. But, that is just me. I may not be a man for all seasons; in this case, all forms of poetry.

What I did like is your word usage from a descriptor's standpoint. They create nice visuals in themselves and bespeak of another time and place where these artists may have walked; or, by their close study, it is as if they walk with you, teaching you what was taught.

Thanks!

Doc.

[Silvia - Scribo, Ergo S..]

Oh, I love this! Wouldn�t it just be fun to assemble a few of the long-deads for a little chin-wag? ... especially the ending is just fab! xxx

[J]

The vanishing point you speak of in your second to last line refers to composition, doesn't it? I seem to recall reading about this once--how artists would (and still do) divide a painting so that the foreground/background/spatial relationship with everything else would be harmonious and in proportion. Yes, proportions is what I was meaning. You speak of some beautiful minds here, Ness. We've all been influenced by these giants in one way or another... I've always been a fan of Pythagoras, moreso for his music and number theories than his vegetarianism, but that's another ideal which has always appealed (but something I've never been able to discipline myself with, for I'm a true barbarian in that meat will always taste good, no matter how much I want to think otherwise lol). But I digress... to me, this is you showing your love and appreciation, your awe even, for what these men did and still continue to do (which is influence our minds and hearts). Regarding Blackbirdsong's nit about the line "blue but Aristotle", consider adding a comma after "blue" to smooth this niggle out? Unless, of course, you were wanting to be deliberately ambiguous with this line (although, I don't think you were). But back to this... I sense a feeling of you wanting this place to become alive again, literally so (but metaphorically in this poem). To people like us who love learning and love finding out what makes things tick (and/or perhaps theorizing about it all), this is a clarion's call back to a more wondrous time, one that you want to be a part of (again). I do too. And it's there to be found in the right circles, I think. Don't you? Anyway, enough of my blabbing... you know I'm hopeless with returning reviews promptly, so this will have to do, right? J

[Blackbirdsong]

Vanessa this such a lovely journey through this painting. It makes me want to go study a print of it to see everything you've described so beautifully.

One little thing:

I had a problem with this line. Maybe it's me though.
//blue but Aristotle

Do you mean, "by" there?

Sorry if I'm not getting something. I'm probably still groggy.

This really is a lovely work.

Thank you for sharing it.

take care :)

[Dj Golden]

I actually have this painting hanging on my wall (poster not an actual painting) and I kept looking up at it every time I read a stanza, and you know it's kinda funny but it does look like Aristotle is looking off towards the outside of the school. Great read, and especially interesting perspective on what they might have been saying when they were sitting there.

[Cdnsurfer]

I know this painting by Raphael and I recall the artist himself is among the great philosophers of classical times. Plato holds a copy of Timaeus and Aristotle holds a copy of his Ethics. The artist stares out from the lower right corner of the painting. I don't think Michelangelo is in the scene, but Pythagoras, Diogenes, Euclid and Ptolemy are definitely in there. A Renaissance "Where's Waldo". Nice piece.

[Sel Whiteley]

This is poem is very immediate. I like how you address:

friend, artist, creator
of this afternoon place.

as you. The reader really feels as if they're coming on a journey with you through this picture. I really like the lines:

Beneath classical arches
we tread a symmetry
of fawn and beige, pass

Pythagoras, and Michelangelo
slouching on the stairs.

too, the use of colour and shape, and especially the idea of these two great thinkers slouching and relaxed on the stairs. I know the picture, but still the sibilance and just verb use in 'slouching on the stairs' is beautiful.

[Armon Badill]

Geez, I could have used this for humanities class!
I luv this poem!
There's one you might include since you have gardens, he was the master of gardens, his name escapes me at the moment but gourmet food eating is named after this ancient greek...eating in general matter of fact, he didn't believe in gods or an afterlife, he said, enjoy what you have now, for when you die, that's it baby, you're done!
oh I remember! Epicurius, he had gardens where he'd party all night long and his students ate well :)
he opposed Platonism, and wanted to revive Ionian philosophy...
I luve google...lol
your poem is wondrous! well done!

[Poeticpiers]

Elegant and refreshing. Good use of a triverse form. The old phiosophers and artists could well meet up to discuss the philosphy of art

[Trevor The Lockeeper]

Dear Vanessa,

Simply, simply lovely.

[Ken Simm.]

Still bid the bursting spirit soar
To sounds that seem as from above,
In dreams that day's broad light can not remove. Byron.
Pythagoras & Michealangelo in the painting by Rapheal? Classic.
Regards Ken.