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Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0 · Hover to magnify, click for fullscreen
Original fileThe scene is divided into a celestial realm on a cloud bank and an earthly realm centered on an altar. In the center, a vertical axis aligns God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit with a consecrated host in a monstrance below. Surrounding the altar are figures of the Church, including popes, doctors, and poets like Dante, engaged in intense study and discussion.
This work represents the peak of Renaissance Neoplatonism, illustrating the hierarchical structure of the cosmos where human reason, depicted in the earthly realm, finds its fulfillment in divine revelation. It serves as the theological counterpart to the 'School of Athens,' synthesizing classical philosophy with Christian mystery.
Dante Alighieri
Dante is depicted in the lower right wearing a laurel wreath, signifying his role as a poet-theologian who mapped the celestial hierarchy.
Marsilio Ficino
The painting's structure reflects Ficino's Neoplatonic 'Great Chain of Being' and the synthesis of Platonic thought with Christian theology.
Object
Oil on panel
religious
Linked Data
AI AI-cataloged fields generated by gemini-3-flash-preview on April 1, 2026. Getty identifiers are AI-inferred and may require verification.