The School of Athens (1794 engraving by G. Mochetti)

What it is

This is an 1794 engraving by G. Mochetti after Raphael's painting The School of Athens. It shows a grand classical hall with coffered arches and statues in niches, filled with robed figures gathered on steps and the floor. Its inscriptions read 'Raphael Santius Pinx' and 'In Aedibus Vaticanis', and the caption reads 'Pio Septimo Pontifici Opt. Maximo'. The curator's note says Pythagoras is among the philosophers. The print is held by the Wellcome Collection in London.

Why it matters

The dedication to a pope shows that the print was made for a religious and political setting, not only as a picture of ancient thought. Raphael's painting was itself made in the Vatican, and copies like this one spread its vision of Greek philosophers to new audiences. Pythagoras appears here as a figure from the past reshaped by later artists.

Look closer

• Why would a print dedicated to a pope include a scene of ancient Greek philosophers?
• Who are the figures placed closest to the viewer, and how are they shown?
• What does the print tell us about the artists and patrons who made it, and what does it not tell us about Pythagoras himself?