Saturday 18 April 2020 / 2 Weeks Lock Down Extension

Old Master: School of Athens

Thinking back over some of the projects I’ve worked on over the years, this Old Master of School of Athens comes to mind. (be sure to browse through my other art galleries of work)

Limnos Bakery Greenpoint. Acrylic on Supawood (1.8 by 2.8 meters)

This is a recreation of ‘The School of Athens’ by the master Raphael. I was commissioned to do this piece for Limnos Bakery, Greenpoint, Cape Town, some years back. If ever you are in the area after the lock-down, go check it out. Their bakery offerings are pretty decadent too. 

Over the years I have developed much respect for the old masters – besides the detail, perspective, architectural study, composition and story-telling ability, the original of this piece is many times larger than mine. Without the benefit of technology, the old masters also could not cut corners like we artists do today, even down to the process of mixing their own paints.

Many great masterpieces around the world now wait in silence for their audiences while we remain in confinement. I have no doubt that the energy of these great works still remains in their silent hallways.

Unfortunately I have limited access to art materials during the lock-down. Time is spent on other things like working through folders of unedited photographs (watch this space), cleaning out my drawers and the cobwebs in my mind. The devil is in the detail, so the saying goes, or God … whatever your perspective.

School of Athens

The School of Athens represents all the greatest mathematicians, philosophers and scientists from classical antiquity gathered together sharing their ideas and learning from each other. These figures all lived at different times, but in the painting they are gathered together under one roof.

Commentators have suggested that nearly every great ancient Greek philosopher can be found in the painting, but determining which are depicted is speculative, since Raphael made no designations outside possible likenesses, and no contemporary documents explain the painting.