Fourth Part
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The Vitruvian Man or Vitruvian Man is a drawing by Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) that was produced in 1490, during the Renaissance.
It represents the classic ideal of beauty, balance, harmony of forms and perfection of proportions. Today it is one of the best known and reproduced works in the world.
The Vitruvian Man was inspired by the work De Architectura by the Roman architect Marcus Vitruvius Pollio, the Vitruvius.
Here is an excerpt from the work Leonardo used to produce his drawing:
“A span is the length of four fingers
One foot is the length of four hands
A cubit is the length of six hands
One step is four cubits
A man's height is four cubits
The length of a man's open arms (wingspan) is equal to his height
The distance between the hairline on the forehead and the bottom of the chin is one-tenth the height of a man
The distance between the top of the head and the bottom of the chin is one-eighth the height of a man
The distance between the bottom of the neck and the hairline on the forehead is one-sixth the height of a man
The maximum length at the shoulders is a quarter the height of a man
The distance between the middle of the chest and the top of the head is a quarter the height of a man
The distance between the elbow and the tip of the hand is a quarter the height of a man
The distance between the elbow and the armpit is one-eighth the height of a man
The length of the hand is one-tenth the height of a man
The distance between the bottom of the chin and the nose is one-third the length of the face
The distance between the hairline on the forehead and the eyebrows is one-third the length of the face
The length of the ear is one third of that of the face
The foot length is one sixth of the height ”
The main characteristics of the Vitruvian Man are related to the proportionality and the level of perfection of the shapes.
He is appointed as a figure of ideal proportions, according to the classic model of beauty.
The technique used by Da Vinci was pencil and ink on paper and has dimensions of 34 by 24 cm.
In the drawing we have a naked man represented in an overlay of images. They form four different positions.
In one of them, the arms are at a 90 degree angle; and in another, they appear higher above the head.
Regarding the legs of the figure, we noticed a drawing with the legs tighter and another, with the legs spread.
Note that two geometric shapes aided Da Vinci in his calculations: a circle and a square.
Philosophical Meaning
Da Vinci's design is closely related to humanist philosophy and the concept of anthropocentrism. Both were foundational and widespread in the Renaissance.
Both in anthropocentrism and in humanist philosophy we have the taking of rational thought. In it, man becomes the center of the world, as opposed to theocentrism, in which God is at the center of the world.
Read more in Renaissance Humanism.
Curiosities
The Vitruvian Man is on display at the Gallerie dell'Accademia, in Venice, Italy.
The drawing is also called the “Canon of Proportions”.
Due to its proportions and techniques, Leonardo's work is considered a mathematical algorithm. Therefore, the total area of the circle is equivalent to the area of the square (square of the circle).
In addition to Da Vinci, other artists tried to reproduce the man described by Vitruvius. They are: Francesco di Giorgio Martini, Albrecht Dürer, Cesare Cesariano, Walther Hermann Ryff and Robert Fludd.
Mona Lisa
Originally La Gioconda (in Italian), is one of the most famous paintings in the world and the most celebrated work by Leonardo da Vinci. It was produced in the 16th century and is currently on display at the Louvre Museum in France.
Because the Mona Lisa is so famous, there are many reproductions of it. Parodies, films, documentaries and music, for example, reproduce this cultural icon recognized worldwide.
It is an oil painting on wood that was produced between the years 1503 and 1506.
She presents the portrait (from the bust upwards) of a serene woman. In the art world it is the most expensive work in the world, valued at many millions.
Although many believe that the canvas has large dimensions, the painting is only 77 cm high by 53 cm wide.
The technique used is called sfumato. This is because the material used is rubbed onto the canvas, which offers a smoky style.
Leonardo da Vinci is considered the creator of this technique, where he sought to demonstrate the perfection and balance of shapes and colors.
In Mona Lisa, Da Vinci sought to harmonize the relationship between man and nature, which can be seen in the landscape in the background.
Who was Mona Lisa?
There are several discussions about who the person portrayed in Da Vinci's work would be. Some believe it to be the painter's self-portrait, others, however, believe that the figure portrayed is Isabel de Aragon, the Duchess of Milan.
The most accepted theory among art historians and scientists today is that the person portrayed is Lisa Gherardini (1479-1542). Lisa was an Italian born in Florence and her husband, Francesco del Giocondo, was the one who commissioned the work for the painter.
One thing is a fact. This painting brings together several mysteries, so it is one of the most analyzed in the field of the arts.
Experts raise many questions, from personality, Mona Lisa's shy smile, the details of the work, the techniques used by Da Vinci, among other aspects.
It is also interesting to note that the look of the Mona Lisa seems to “persecute” admirers. This may have been a technique used by Da Vinci in order to create this effect.
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