Who painted The School of Athens?

• A. Sandro Botticelli
• B. Leonardo da Vinci
• C. Raphael
• D. Michelangelo

Answer: (C)

The main idea being tested is recognizing who created a famous Renaissance fresco. The School of Athens was painted by Raphael, a master of the High Renaissance, around 1509–1511 as part of the Vatican’s Stanze di Raffaello. It shows a grand gathering of ancient philosophers in a harmonious architectural setting, embodying the era’s blend of classical wisdom and Renaissance thinking. In the scene, Plato and Aristotle stand at the center, signaling the dialogue between ideal forms and empirical understanding that the painting celebrates, all rendered with Raphael’s clear, balanced composition and sense of depth.

Botticelli is renowned for mythological works like The Birth of Venus and Primavera, not this fresco. Leonardo da Vinci, while famous for the Last Supper and the Mona Lisa, did not paint this piece. Michelangelo is famous for the Sistine Chapel ceiling and The Last Judgment, also not this work. Given these distinctions, Raphael is the best fit for The School of Athens.