A masterfully executed 18th-century copper engraving by Domenico Cunego, depicting a group of disciples surrounding Socrates. This piece is part of a celebrated series based on Raphael’s fresco “The School of Athens” in the Apostolic Palace, Vatican City.
This striking group portrait showcases Cunego’s technical prowess in complex composition. The work captures five distinct heads in varying planes and foreshortenings, characterized by their expressions of intense study and debate. The sophisticated use of overlapping profiles and reacting gazes creates a remarkable sense of three-dimensionality and narrative movement within a single plate.
This group represents the diverse followers of Socratic dialogue, including figures such as Aeschines and Antisthenes. Their presence in this series symbolizes the communal nature of learning and the intellectual fervor of the Athenian “agora,” illustrating the transmission of philosophy through active debate.
Domenico Cunego (Italian, 1726–1803)
Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino, 1483–1520)
Copper Engraving / Etching
Circa 1785
Scuola d’Atene (The School of Athens)
Laid paper (typical of late 18th-century European prints)
Rome, Italy
Detailed descriptions of paper quality, margins, and preservation state.
Direct history of the collection’s origin.
Expertly packed and insured delivery to international collectors and institutions.
