Philosophers in Art

Abelard Peter (Pierre Abйlard, Doctor Scholasticus, 1079-1142)

· Benouville. Abelard Talking to His Students near Melun (1837, Munich, Neue Pinakothek)

o Peter Abelard (Pierre Abйlard, 1079-1142)

· Dali. Hйloпse and Abelard (a lithograph out of the series known as “Dante’s Inferno”)

· Kauffmann. The Farewell of Abelard and Hйloпse (1780, St. Petersburg, The Hermitage)

o Peter Abelard (Pierre Abйlard, 1079-1142)

o Hйloпse (Abelard’s wife, c. 1098-1164)

* … after our little son was born, we left him in my sister’s care, and secretly returned to Paris. A few days later, in the early morning, having kept our nocturnal vigil of prayer unknown to all in a certain church, we were united there in the benediction of wedlock her uncle and a few friends of his and mine being present. We departed forthwith stealthily and by separate ways, nor thereafter did we see each other save rarely and in private, thus striving our utmost to conceal what we had done. But her uncle and those of his household, seeking solace for their disgrace, began to divulge the story of our marriage, and thereby to violate the pledge they had given me on this point. Heloise, on the contrary, denounced her own kin and swore that they were speaking the most absolute lies. Her uncle, aroused to fury thereby, visited her repeatedly with punishments. No sooner had I learned this than I sent her to a convent of nuns at Argenteuil, not far from Paris, where she herself had been brought up and educated as a young girl. I had them make ready for her all the garments of a nun, suitable for the life of a convent, excepting only the veil, and these I bade her put on. When her uncle and his kinsmen heard of this, they were convinced that now I had completely played them false and had rid myself forever of Heloise by forcing her to become a nun(Abelard, Historia Calamitatum [The Story of My Misfortunes]).

· French Sculptor (19th century). Abelard and Hйloпse Burial (1817, Paris, Pиre-Lachaise Cemetery)

o Abelard and Hйloпse Burial (detail)

o Abelard and Hйloпse Burial: Sarcophagus

Aeschines (early 4th century B.C.)

· Raphael. The School of Athens (1510-1511, Rome, Vatican, Stanza della Segnatura)

o Aeschines (early 4th century B.C.; see also alternative fragment usually identified as that of Alexander the Great or Agathon)

o Socrates with Disciples: Aeschines, Alcibiades, Antisthenes (detail)

· German Artist (19th century). Aechines: Illustration from Galerie der alten Griechen und Rцmer (1801, Augsburg)

Agrippa von Nettesheim Heinrich Cornelius (1486-1535)

· Unidentified Artist (17th century). Agrippa von Nettesheim (Bibliotheca chalcographica, 1669)

Albert the Great (Albertus Magnus, Albert von Bollstдdt, Doctor Universalis, c. 1200-1280)

· Flewelling Ralph Carlin. Albertus Magnus: The creation in time is a revelation of the eternal acting of God: A Mosaic in the Main Reading Room of James Harmon Hoose Library of Philosophy(1929, Los Angeles, The University of Southern California, Mudd Hall of Philosophy).

· Giovanni di Paolo. The First Circle of the Twelve Teachers of Wisdom Led by Thomas Aquinas: Illustration of Dante’s Paradiso, Canto X (btw. 1442-1450, London, The British Library)

o Albertus Magnus (c. 1200-1280)

· Joos van Ghent. Albertus Magnus (c. 1474, Urbino, The National Gallery of The Marches?)

· Laufenberg. Albertus Magnus (2001)

· Staes. Albertus Magnus (© Robert Staes, O.P.)

· Tommaso da Modena. St. Albert the Great (1352, Treviso, San Niccolт, Chapter House)

· Unidentified Artist (17th century). Albertus Magnus (Bibliotheca chalcographica, 1669)

Alcuin Flaccus Albinus (c. 732-804)

· Schnetz. Alcuin Presenting Manuscripts Discovered by His Monks to Charlemagne and His Court (1830, Paris, Musйe du Louvre)

o Flaccus Albinus Alcuin (c. 732-804)

Aldrovandi Ulisse (1522-1605)

· Unidentified Artist (17th century). Ulisse Aldrovandi (Bibliotheca chalcographica, 1669)

Alembert Jean Le Rond, d’ (1717-1783)

· La Tour Maurice-Quentin. Jean le Rond d’Alembert (1753, Paris, Musйe du Louvre)

· La Tour Maurice-Quentin. Jean le Rond d’Alembert: Sketch (1753, Saint-Quentin, The Antoine Lйcuyer Museum)

· Lecomte Fйlix. Jean le Rond d’Alembert (as seen from the sitter’s left-hand side) (between 1791-1808, Paris, Musйe du Louvre)

o Jean le Rond d’Alembert (as seen from the sitter’s right-hand side)

Alsted Johann Heinrich (1588-1638)

· Unidentified Artist (17th century). Johann Heinrich Alsted (Bibliotheca chalcographica, 1652)

Althusser Louis (1918-1990)

· Vasco. Louis Althusser (© Vasco)

Ambrogini Angelo – see: Politian

Anacharsis (early 6th century B.C.?)

· German Artist (19th century). Anacharsis: Illustration from Galerie der alten Griechen und Rцmer (1801, Augsburg)

Anaxagoras (c. 500 – c. 428 B.C.)

· Flewelling Ralph Carlin. Anaxagoras: Mind is infinite and self-ruled: A Mosaic in the Main Reading Room of James Harmon Hoose Library of Philosophy (1929, Los Angeles, The University of Southern California, Mudd Hall of Philosophy).

· Lebiedzki (after design by Karl Rahl). Philosophers of Athens: Detail of the Right-hand Faзade Mural (Athens, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens)

o Anaxagoras (c. 500 – c. 428 B.C.)

o Anaxagoras (detail)

o Anaxagoras (detail enlarged)

· Raphael. The School of Athens (1510-1511, Rome, Vatican, Stanza della Segnatura)

o Anaxagoras (c. 500 – c. 428 B.C.)

Anaximander (610-546/545 B.C.)

· Raphael. The School of Athens (1510-1511, Rome, Vatican, Stanza della Segnatura)

o Anaximander (610-546/545 B.C., sometimes identified as Boethius)

o Anaximander (detail)

o Anaximander (detail, enlarged)

Anselm of Canterbury (Anselmo of Aosta, Doctor Marianus, 1033/34-1109)

· Romanelli Giovanni Francesco (and workshop). The Meeting of the Countess Matilda and Anselm of Canterbury (1637-1642, Rome, Vatican, Galleria dei Romanelli)

o Anselm of Canterbury (1033/34-1109)

Antisthenes (444 – after 371 B.C.)

· Lebiedzki (after design by Karl Rahl). Philosophers of Athens: Detail of the Right-hand Faзade Mural (Athens, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens)

o Antisthenes (444 – after 371 B.C.)

o Antisthenes (detail)

o Antisthenes (detail enlarged)

· Raphael. The School of Athens (1510-1511, Rome, Vatican, Stanza della Segnatura)

o Antisthenes (444 – after 371 B.C., sometimes identified as Xenophon)

o Socrates with Disciples: Aeschines, Alcibiades, Antisthenes (detail)

o Socrates with Disciples (detail, enlarged)

· German Artist (19th century). Antisthenes: Illustration from Galerie der alten Griechen und Rцmer (1801, Augsburg)

· Roman Sculptor (after the Greek original of late 3rd – early 2nd century B. C.). Antisthenes of Athens (London, The British Museum)

Apollonius of Tyana (1st century A.D.)

· Melo. Apollonius (btw. 1685-1687, Versailles, The Versailles Park and Gardens)

o Apollonius (detail)

· German Artist (19th century). Apollonius of Tyana: Illustration from Galerie der alten Griechen und Rцmer (1801, Augsburg)

Apuleius Lucius (c. 124 – after 170)

· German Artist (19th century). Apuleius: Illustration from Galerie der alten Griechen und Rцmer (1801, Augsburg)

Aquinas Thomas – see: Thomas Aquinas

Archytas of Tarentum (4th century B.C.)

· German Artist (19th century). Archytas of Tarentum: Illustration from Galerie der alten Griechen und Rцmer (1801, Augsburg)

Aretino Leonardo – see: Bruni Leonardo

Argyropoulos John (1415-1487)

· Ghirlandajo Domenico. Calling of the First Apostles (1481, Rome, Vatican, Cappella Sistina)

o The Florentines of Rome

o The Florentines of Rome (enlarged)

§ John Argyropoulos (1415-1487)

Aristippus of Cyrene (c. 435-366 B.C.)

· German Artist (19th century). Aristippus: Illustration from Galerie der alten Griechen und Rцmer (1801, Augsburg)

Aristotle (384-321 B.C.)

Aristotle’s images are listed on a separate page.

Aristoxenus (late 4th century B.C.)

· Raphael. The School of Athens (1510-1511, Rome, Vatican, Stanza della Segnatura)

o Aristoxenus (late 4th century B.C., usually identified as Parmenides)

Arminius Jacobus (Jacob Harmensen or Hermansz, 1560-1609)

· Unidentified Artist (17th century). Jacobus Arminius (Bibliotheca chalcographica, 1669)

Arnauld Antoine (1612-1694)

· Persons related to Antoine Arnauld:

o Champaigne Philippe, de. Portrait of Robert Arnauld d’Andilly (brother to Antoine Arnauld, 1588-1674)

Arouet Franзois-Marie – see: Voltaire

Augustine, Saint (Aurelius Augustinus, 354-430)

Drawings

Easel and Panel Paintings

Miniatures (no miniature images of St. Augustine yet, but many will be added shortly)

Mural Paintings (Frescoes)

Sculptures

Other (mosaics, tapestries)

Aurelius Augustinus – see: Augustine, Saint)

Aurelius Marcus (Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, original name Marcus Annius Verus, 121-180 A. D.)

Marcus Aurelius’ images are listed on a separate page.

Averroлs (Abu al-Walid Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Rushd, 1126-1198)

Averroлs’ images are listed on a separate page.

Avicenna (Abu ‘Ali al-Husayn ibn ‘Abd Allah ibn Sina, 980-1037)

· Unver Suhayl. Sheikh ar-Rais Ibn Sina al-Bukhari: A book illumination

· English Miniaturist (14th century). Avicenna’s Diagram of the Brain: Illumination on parchment (c. 1300, Cambridge, University Library)

· Unknown Artist. Hippocrates, Galen and Avicenna: An illustration from a volume of Galen’s works

o Avicenna (Ibn Sina, 980-1037)

· Dali. Philosopher Illuminated by the Light of the Moon and the Setting Sun (1939, private collection)

· Dali. Philosopher Reclining (1938, private collection)

· Fechin. The Philosopher (c. 1937, Washington, Smithsonian American Art Museum)

· Ghirlandajo Domenico. Angel Appearing to Zacharias (1486-1490, Florence, Santa Maria Novella, Cappella Tornabuoni)

o Members of the Platonic Academy

o Members of the Platonic Academy (enlarged)

o Neoplatonists

o Neoplatonists (enlarged)

· Giordano. A Cynical Philosopher (Munich, Alte Pinakothek)

· Giorgione (completed by Sebastiano del Piombo). The Three Philosophers (c. 1510, Vienna, Kunsthistorisches Museum)

o Plato’s Cave (identification purely conjectural)

· Holbein Hans (the Younger). Christ as the True Light (c. 1526, Basle, Kupferstichkabinett, Цffentliche Kunstsammlung)

o Scholars Following Pagan Philosophers Plato and Aristotle Towards the Abyss (detail)

· Koninck. A Philosopher (1635, Madrid, Museo del Prado)

· Kracker Jan Lucas. The Dispute between St. Catherine of Alexandria and the Philosophers (1775, Budapest, Hungarian National Gallery)

· Manet. The Philosopher (1865-1867, Chicago, Art Institute)

· Masolino. The Philosophers of Alexandria (1425, Rome, San Clemente)

o The Philosophers of Alexandria: Detail

· Pinturicchio. St. Catherine’s Disputation [with pagan philosophers]: The left part of the fresco (1492-1494, Rome, Vatican, Palazzi Pontifici, Sala dei Santi – Room of Saints)

· Pinturicchio. St. Catherine’s Disputation [with pagan philosophers]: The right part of the fresco (1492-1494, Rome, Vatican, Palazzi Pontifici, Sala dei Santi – Room of Saints)

· Puget. Philosopher (1662, Cleveland, Museum of Art)

Not identified, possibly Chrysippus, Epicurus or Socrates.

· Quadrone. The Philosopher (1870, private collection)

· Raphael. The School of Athens (1510-1511, Rome, Vatican, Stanza della Segnatura)

o Peripatetics

· Reichert. The Cynic and the Philosopher (Private collection)

· Rembrandt. Philosopher Meditating (1631, Paris, Musйe du Louvre)

· Rembrandt. Philosopher Reading (1631, Stockholm, Nationalmuseum)

· Rembrandt. The Philosopher (1650, Washington, The National Gallery of Art)

· Ribera. A Philosopher (alias Euclid) (btw 1630-1637, Los Angeles, J. Paul Getty Museum)

· Rixens. The Philosopher (1904, Toulouse, Musйe des Augustins)

· Roerich Nicholas. Philosopher – Silence (1940, Moscow, Museum of Oriental Art)

· Roerich Nicholas. The Teacher

· Roerich Nicholas. The Teacher’s Shadow (1932)

· Rosa. Portrait of a Philosopher (private collection)

· Signorelli. Doctors of the Church (1499-1502, Orvieto, Duomo, Chapel of San Brizio)

· Tiepolo Giovanni Domenico. Head of a Philosopher (btw. 1758-1764, Chicago, Art Institute)

· Wright Joseph. A Philosopher Lecturing with a Mechanical Planetary (1766, Derby, Derby Museum and Art Gallery)

· Greek (Greco-Roman?) Sculptor (2nd century A.D.?). Philosopher (presumably Socrates) (Delphi, Museum)

o Philosopher (detail full face)

o Philosopher (detail side view)

· Italian Painter (14th century). St. Catherine with the Philosophers (1390s, Piacenza, Museo Civico)

Bachelard Gaston (1884-1962)

· Vasco. Gaston Bachelard (© Vasco)

Bacon Francis (1561-1626)

· Roubillac. Bust of Sir Francis Bacon (1751, Cambridge, Trinity College Library)

o Bust of Sir Francis Bacon (detail)

· Woolner. Frances Bacon (1857, Oxford, Natural History Museum)

· Wright William. Monument to Francis Bacon (1626, St. Albans, St. Michael’s Church)

o Monument to Francis Bacon (detail)

Bacon Roger (Doctor Mirabilis, c. 1220-1292)

· Hope-Pinker. Statue of Roger Bacon (19th century, Oxford, Natural History Museum)

o Statue of Roger Bacon (detail)

Barthes Roland (Gйrard) (1915-1980)

· Vasco. Roland Barthes (© Vasco)

Basil the Great, Saint (329-379)

· Herrera (the Elder). St. Basil Dictating His Rule (c. 1639, Paris, Musйe du Louvre)

· Rubens. St. Basil (Gotha, SchloЯ Friedenstein)

· Schmalz. St. Basil (Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, the artist’s property)

o St. Basil (detail)

· Theophanes the Greek. St. Basil the Great (c. 1405, Moscow, The Kremlin, the Annunciation Cathedral)

· Vasnetsov V. Orthodox Bishops (1885-1896, Kiev, Cathedral of St. Vladimir)

o St. Basil the Great (329-379)

· Zurbarбn. St. Basil (Bucharest, Art Museum)

· German Artist (17th century). St. Basil the Great: Illustration from Πατρολογια, id est Descriptio S. Patrum Grжcorum & Latinorum (1624, Augsburg)

Becchi Gentile

· Ghirlandajo Domenico. Angel Appearing to Zacharias (1486-1490, Florence, Santa Maria Novella, Cappella Tornabuoni)

o Members of the Platonic Academy

o Members of the Platonic Academy (enlarged)

§ Gentile de’ Becchi (usually identified as Demetrius Chalcondyles)

Bede the Venerable (672/673-735)

· Giovanni di Paolo. The First Circle of the Twelve Teachers of Wisdom Led by Thomas Aquinas: Illustration of Dante’s Paradiso, Canto X (btw. 1442-1450, London, The British Library)

o Bede the Venerable (672/673-735)

· Giovanni di Paolo. The First Circle of the Twelve Teachers of Wisdom Led by Thomas Aquinas: Illustration of Dante’s Paradiso, Canto X (btw. 1442-1450, London, The British Library)

o Bede the Venerable (672/673-735)

Bely Andrey (Boris Nikolayevich Bugayev, 1880-1934)

· Bakst. Portrait of the Poet and Writer Andrey Bely (1905, St. Petersburg, The Russian Museum)

· Bakst. Portrait of the Writer Andrey Bely (Paris)

· Petrov-Vodkin. Portrait of Andrey Bely (1932)

Bentham Jeremy (1748-1832)

· David Jean-Pierre. Jeremy Bentham (1828, London, Senate House)

Berkeley George (1685-1753)

· Flewelling Ralph Carlin. Berkeley: Westward the course of empire takes its way, time’s noblest offspring is the last: A Mosaic in the Main Reading Room of James Harmon Hoose Library of Philosophy (1929, Los Angeles, The University of Southern California, Mudd Hall of Philosophy).

· Smibert. Family Portrait of Dean George Berkeley (1729, New Haven, Yale University Art Gallery)

Bessarion John (Basil Bessarion, 1403-1472)

· Bellini Gentile. Cardinal Bessarion with the Bessarion Reliquary (c. 1472-1473, London, The National Gallery)

o John Bessarion (1403-1472)

· Joos van Ghent. Cardinal Bessarion (c. 1474, Paris, Musйe du Louvre)

· Unidentified Artist (17th century). Bessarion (Bibliotheca chalcographica, 1669)

· Unknown Miniaturist. Illustration to Bessarion, Orationes et epistolae ad Christianos principes contra Turcos [Orations and Letters to Christian Princes against the Turks]

o John Bessarion (1403-1472)

Bias of Priene (c. 590 – c. 530 B.C.)

· German Artist (19th century). Bias of Priene: Illustration from Galerie der alten Griechen und Rцmer (1801, Augsburg)

Boethius Anicius Manlius Severinus (480-524)

· Amadeus. Boethius Instructing His Students and Boethius in Prison: Two Miniatures from Book I of Boethius’ On the Consolation of Philosophy (1385, Glasgow, Glasgow University LIbrary)

* The text reads:

Carmina qui quondam studio florente peregi,
flebilis heu maestos cogor inire modos.
ecce mihi lacerae dictant scribenda Camenae et ueris elegi fletibus ora rigant.

English translation (by W.V. Cooper):

To pleasant songs my work was erstwhile given, and bright were all my labours then;
but now in tears to sad refrains am I compelled to turn.
Thus my maimed Muses guide my pen,
and gloomy songs make no feigned tears bedew my face.

o Boethius Instructing His Students: An Initial Vignette

o Boethius in Prison: A Miniature

· Giovanni di Paolo. The First Circle of the Twelve Teachers of Wisdom Led by Thomas Aquinas: Illustration of Dante’s Paradiso, Canto X (btw. 1442-1450, London, The British Library)

o Boethius (480-524)

· Raphael. The School of Athens (1510-1511, Rome, Vatican, Stanza della Segnatura)

o Boethius (480-524, usually identified as Anaximander)

o Boethius (detail, the figure is usually identified as that of Anaximander)

o Boethius (detail, enlarged, the figure is usually identified as that of Anaximander)

· Schnetz. Boethius Bidding Farewell to His Family

· Dutch Miniaturist (15th century). Jean de Meng Offering His Translation of Boethius’ De consolatione philosophiae to Margaret of England: Illumination on Parchment (after 1476, Jena,Friedrich-Schiller-Universitдt, Universitдtsbibliothek)

Bollstдdt Albert von – see: Albert the Great

Bonaventure, Saint (Giovanni di Fidanza, Doctor Seraphicus, 1221-1274)

· Angelico. Crucifixion and Saints (1441-1442, Florence, Convento di San Marco)

o St. Bonaventure: medallion (Giovanni di Fidanza, c. 1217-1274)

· Baciccio. Apotheosis of the Franciscan Order (1707, Rome, Basilica Santi XII Apostoli)