Woulfflin School Of Athens Analysis

At the first glance of two pieces of art, a viewer might have a hard time distinguishing similarities and differences between the two, but Wölfflin’s principles opens up a proper analysis to view resemblances and distinctions that reflect the artworks. In Rapheal’s “School of Athens”(1509) and Perugino’s “Delivery of the Keys”(1481), Wölfflin’s principles can be applied to point out clear contrasts between the two pieces of art. Through Wölfflin’s principles, “School of Athens” can be categorized in the principles of painterly, recession, open form, and unity while “Delivery of the Keys” can be categorized into his principles of linear, planar, closed form, and multiplicity. Focusing on the distinctions between linear vs. painterly, Raphael’s and Perugino’s paintings fall into different ends of the spectrum. In “School of Athens” by Raphael, the characters seem to mix and blend in with each other. Most of the characters are missing a clear distinguishable facial expression that falls into the painterly style. In contrast with “School of Athens”, the characters in “Delivery of the Keys” by Perugino have a solid outline to them

closed forms of the paintings, Raphael displays more of an open form compared to Perugino’s closed form. In “School of Athens”, an arch seen in the picture restricts what the viewer can see beyond the boundaries. It leaves room for the viewer to interpret what lies outside that arch. In a painting with open form such as “School of Athens”, it suggests that characters are in motion and the painting captures a specific moment in that time frame. In “Delivery of the Keys”, a frame can be seen that holds the reader to just focus on what is inside of it. In this painting, there is a clear division between the two men with the keys that separates the painting into a symmetrical left and right. The peaceful painting of Perugino reflects onto Wölfflin’s principle of closed form, where everything is contained within the