What you are looking at
Great thinkers of ancient Greece gather in a vast vaulted hall. At the center Plato points up to the heavens and Aristotle holds his hand out flat toward the earth. Around them philosophers and mathematicians argue, write and teach.
Why it is famous
Raphael painted it as a fresco on a wall of the Stanza della Segnatura in the Vatican Palace for Pope Julius II, at the same time Michelangelo was painting the Sistine ceiling nearby. Raphael included a portrait of himself near the right edge, looking out at us.
How big is The School of Athens?
The School of Athens measures 550 × 770 cm (216.5 × 303.1 in), without its frame. Its surface is about 100 times the area of the Mona Lisa.
Compare it with other paintings
Where to see it
It is in the Raphael Rooms on the Vatican Museums route, before the Sistine Chapel. The rooms get crowded; look up and around, as every wall is painted.
Museums move and lend paintings. Check the museum's website before you travel to see one work. See all famous paintings in Rome and Vatican City.
Also at the Vatican Museums
Frequently asked questions
Who painted The School of Athens?
Raphael painted The School of Athens in 1509 to 1511.
Where is The School of Athens?
The School of Athens is in the Vatican Museums, Vatican City, Vatican City.
How big is The School of Athens?
550 × 770 cm (216.5 × 303.1 in). Its surface is about 100 times the area of the Mona Lisa.
What is The School of Athens made with?
Fresco.
Sources: Wikidata Q186953; Wikipedia, "The School of Athens". Checked October 17, 2026. How we check.