Heraclitus (Michelangelo) from The School of Athens

A solitary figure in a lilac-colored tunic and heavy leather boots sits hunched over a large stone block. He rests his head on one hand in a pensive, melancholic pose while his other hand writes on a sheet of paper. This figure is physically isolated from the surrounding groups of philosophers, emphasizing his reputation for introspection and misanthropy.

Heraclitus is foundational to Western thought for his doctrine of the Logos and the concept of universal flux (panta rhei). In a Renaissance context, his pose reflects the Neoplatonic association between the melancholic temperament and intellectual genius, a connection Raphael draws between the ancient philosopher and his contemporary, Michelangelo.