Beyond being painted in it’s associated period (the Renaissance), the painting, the School of Athens is heavily reminiscent of Renaissance ideals. First and foremost the paintings depiction of classical figures such as Plato and Aristotle is representative of the overarching Renaissance theme of a return to classicism. Renaissance architecture similarly focused on returning to the simpler classical form. Further more the painting is representative of the Renaissance idea of humanism and the power of human reason. Despite its location in the Vatican, the painting features two philosophers. This harkens to the Renaissance idea of the divinity of human reason.