The Parnassus

The Parnassus

The Parnassus is a painting by the Italian renaissance artist Raphael. Pope Julius II commissioned Raphael to decorate with frescoes the rooms that are now known as the Stanze di Raffaello, in the Palace of the Vatican. It is located in the Stanza della segnatura, the first room that Raphael decorated, that portrays the four areas of human knowledge: philosophy, religion, poetry and law. The Parnassus represents poetry, ancient and Renaissance poets are centered around Apollo, who is seated on top of Mount Helicon, and nine muses. Apollo, along with Calliope, the muse of epic poetry, inspired...
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quick facts
Artist:Raphael
Artform:Fresco
Date completed:1511
Genre:History painting

The Parnassus subject matter

The Nine Muses
The Nine Muses

The Muses in Greek mythology, poetry, and literature, are the goddesses of the inspiration of literature, science and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge,...
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Apollo
Apollo

Apollo ; Doric: Ἀπέλλων, Apellōn; Arcadocypriot: Ἀπείλων, Apeilōn; Aeolic:...
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Artist of The Parnassus

Raphael
Raphael
April 6, 1483- April 6, 1520

Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino , better known simply as Raphael, was an Italian painter and architect of the High Renaissance. His work is admired for its clarity of form and ease of composition and for its visual achievement of the Neoplatonic ideal of human grandeur. Together with Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, he forms the traditional trinity of great masters of that period. Raphael was enormously productive, running an unusually large...
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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Q:
    Where can the "The Parnassus" be viewed?
  • A:
    The valuable artwork is stored, maintained and available for viewing at the Apostolic Palace.
The Parnassus
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