The School of Athens was painted between 1510 and 1511 by Raphael in the Apostolic Palace, Vatican City. Many of the figures are recognizable, particulary Plato and Aristotle at the central vanishing point. Seeing this fresco in person was one of the highlights of my trip. October 2010.
See wikipedia for more information.
You can see all professional quality prints for sale at the On Focus Photo store.
Villa dei Misteri, or Villa of the Mysteries, is a well preserved Roman villa on the outskirts of Pompeii. It was covered in ash during the Mount Vesuvius eruption in 79 A.D., but mostly undamaged.
The villa is named for frescoes seen in this photo, which may refer to an initiation into the cult of Dionysus or possibly, a marriage ritual. Italy, October 2010.
Click to purchase this image as a professional quality print.
You can see all professional quality prints for sale at the On Focus Photo store.
Painting on ceiling of Asakusa Kannon Temple (also called Senso-ji). Tokyo, Japan. August 2008.
