Leonardo da Vinci Vitruvian Man. "Vitruvian Man": engineering project or high art

The Vitruvian Man is a drawing made by Leonardo Da Vinci around 1490-1492, as an illustration for a book dedicated to the works of Vitruvius. The drawing is accompanied by explanatory notes in one of his journals. It depicts the figure of a naked man in two superimposed positions: with his arms spread to the sides, describing a circle and a square. Picture and text are sometimes called canonical proportions.

1. Leonardo never intended to show off his Vitruvian Man.

The sketch was discovered in one of the personal notebooks of the Renaissance master. In fact, Leonardo drew the sketch for his own research and did not even suspect that he would one day be admired. However, today "The Vitruvian Man" is one of the most famous works artist, along with The Last Supper and the Mona Lisa.

2. Combining art and science

A true representative of the Renaissance, Leonardo was not only a painter, sculptor and writer, but also an inventor, architect, engineer, mathematician and anatomy expert. This ink drawing was the result of Leonardo's study of theories about human proportions, described by the ancient Roman architect Vitruvius.

3. Leonardo wasn’t the first to try to illustrate Vitruvius’ theories.

Modern scholars believe that in the 15th century and subsequent decades there were many people who tried to express this idea in visual form.

4. Perhaps the drawing was not only made by Leonardo himself

In 2012, Italian architectural historian Claudio Sgarbi published findings that Leonardo's research into the proportions of the human body was prompted by similar research done by his friend and fellow architect Giacomo Andrea de Ferrara. It is still unclear whether they worked together. Even if this theory is incorrect, historians agree that Leonardo improved on the shortcomings of Giacomo's work.

5. Circle and square have their own hidden meaning

In their mathematical studies, Vitruvius and Leonardo described not only the proportions of man, but also the proportions of all creation. IN notebook 1492 Leonardo's recording was found: " Ancient man was a world in miniature. Since man is composed of earth, water, air and fire, his body resembles a microcosm of the Universe."

6. "Vitruvian Man" - just one of many sketches

In order to improve his art and better understand how the world around him worked, Leonardo painted many people to form an idea of ​​ideal proportions.

7. Vitruvian Man - the ideal man

Who served as the model will remain a mystery, but art historians believe that Leonardo took some liberties in his drawing. This work was not so much a portrait as a conscientious depiction of ideal male forms from a mathematical point of view.

8. It could be a self-portrait

Since there are no descriptions of the model from which this sketch was drawn, some art historians believe that Leonardo drew the “Vitruvian Man” from himself.

9. The Vitruvian Man Had a Hernia

Imperial College London surgeon Hutan Ashrafyan 521 years after creation famous drawing determined that the man depicted in the sketch had an inguinal hernia, which could have led to his death.

10. To understand the full meaning of the drawing, you need to read the notes to it

When the sketch was originally discovered in Lernardo's notebook, next to it were the artist's notes regarding human proportions, which read: "The architect Vitruvius states in his work on architecture that measurements human body distributed according to the following principle: the width of 4 fingers is equal to 1 palm, the foot is 4 palms, the elbow is 6 palms, full height a person - 4 cubits or 24 palms... Vitruvius used the same measurements in the construction of his buildings."

11. The body is drawn with measuring lines

If you look closely at the chest, arms and face of the person in the drawing, you will notice straight lines marking the proportions that Leonardo wrote about in his notes. For example, the part of the face from the bottom of the nose to the eyebrows makes up a third of the face, as does the part of the face from the bottom of the nose to the chin and from the eyebrows to the line where the hair begins to grow.

"Vitruvian Man" is one of Leonardo Da Vinci's most famous drawings, which was published in one of his journals around 1490. This drawing shows a male nude figure in two positions superimposed on each other. The figure of a man with arms and legs spread apart is placed in a circle, and with arms spread apart and legs brought together - into a square. Leonardo's Vitruvian Man symbolizes canonical proportions.

The drawing in the magazine is accompanied by explanatory notes. If you examine it, you will actually notice that the position of the arms and legs is not two poses, as it seems at first glance, but four.

Vitruvian Man as a work of art and as a scientific work

When changing poses, it seems that the figure in the center is moving. But in reality, the navel of the figure remains motionless, and the center of the square is the genitals. Later, it was this technique that Corbusier used to create a scale of proportions, which influenced the architectural aesthetics of the 20th century. According to the accompanying text, the drawing was created in order to determine the proportions male body. The basis for Da Vinci’s drawing “The Vitruvian Man” was the architect’s treatise “The Man of Equilibrium” Ancient Rome Vitruvius, after whom the image of the figure is named. This ancient Roman used the proportions of the human body for his studies in architecture.

Human body symmetry symbol

Leonardo Da Vinci's Vitruvian Man is an image of a coherent state of life with man at the center. The figure shows ideal proportions. Two positions - in a circle and a square in the figure - reflect dynamics and peace. The center of the body, fixed by the square, is the phallus, the center of the moving figure is the solar plexus. Thus, great artist conveys the inconsistency of spirit (circle) and matter (square).

If we supplement the drawing with the sides of Heidegger’s Quaternary, we get symbolic image the true state of man, half Divine, half Mortal, who rests his feet on the Earth and his head in Heaven.

The Vitruvian Man is not only hidden symbol internal symmetry of the human body, but also a symbol of the symmetry of the Universe as a whole.

Interesting information

IN modern world Da Vinci's drawing is no longer perceived by humanity as a symbol perfect proportions human, in particular, the male body. This image rather symbolizes man’s presence in the Universe.

There is one interesting theory, according to which Da Vinci's Vitruvian Man is a depiction of Christ. The artist was engaged in the restoration of the Shroud at the request of its guardians. Seemingly inspired by the image of Christ on the shrine, he transfers the impeccable proportions of his body into his drawing. Which means he depicts divine proportions human body. Da Vinci, placing the male figure at the center of the universe, depicted man in the image of God.

Vitruvian Man is a drawing made by Leonardo Da Vinci around 1490-1492, as an illustration for a book dedicated to the works of Vitruvius. The drawing is accompanied by explanatory notes in one of his journals. It depicts the figure of a naked man in two superimposed positions: with his arms spread to the sides, describing a circle and a square. The drawing and text are sometimes called canonical proportions.

1. Leonardo never intended to show off his Vitruvian Man.


The sketch was discovered in one of the personal notebooks of the Renaissance master. In fact, Leonardo drew the sketch for his own research and did not even suspect that he would one day be admired. However, today "Vitruvian Man" is one of the artist's most famous works, along with "The Last Supper" and "Mona Lisa".

2. Combining art and science


A true representative of the Renaissance, Leonardo was not only a painter, sculptor and writer, but also an inventor, architect, engineer, mathematician and anatomy expert. This ink drawing was the result of Leonardo's study of theories about human proportions described by the ancient Roman architect Vitruvius.

3. Leonardo wasn’t the first to try to illustrate Vitruvius’ theories.


Modern scholars believe that in the 15th century and subsequent decades there were many people who tried to express this idea in visual form.

4. Perhaps the drawing was not only made by Leonardo himself


In 2012, Italian architectural historian Claudio Sgarbi published findings that Leonardo's research into the proportions of the human body was prompted by similar research done by his friend and fellow architect Giacomo Andrea de Ferrara. It is still unclear whether they worked together. Even if this theory is incorrect, historians agree that Leonardo improved on the shortcomings of Giacomo's work.

5. Circle and square have their own hidden meaning


In their mathematical studies, Vitruvius and Leonardo described not only the proportions of man, but also the proportions of all creation. In a notebook from 1492, Leonardo's note was found: "Ancient man was the world in miniature. Since man consists of earth, water, air and fire, his body resembles a microcosm of the Universe."

6. "The Vitruvian Man" is just one of many sketches


In order to improve his art and better understand how the world around him worked, Leonardo painted many people to form an idea of ​​ideal proportions.

7. The Vitruvian Man is the ideal man


Who served as the model will remain a mystery, but art historians believe that Leonardo took some liberties in his drawing. This work was not so much a portrait as a faithful depiction of the ideal male form from a mathematical point of view.

8. It could be a self-portrait


Since there are no descriptions of the model from which this sketch was drawn, some art historians believe that Leonardo drew the “Vitruvian Man” from himself.

9. The Vitruvian Man Had a Hernia


Imperial College London surgeon Hutan Ashrafyan, 521 years after the creation of the famous drawing, established that the man depicted in the sketch had an inguinal hernia, which could lead to his death.

10. To understand the full meaning of the drawing, you need to read the notes to it


When the sketch was originally discovered in Lernardo's notebook, next to it were the artist's notes on human proportions, which read: "The architect Vitruvius states in his work on architecture that the dimensions of the human body are distributed according to the following principle: the width of 4 fingers is equal to 1 palm, foot is 4 palms, a cubit is 6 palms, the full height of a person is 4 cubits or 24 palms... Vitruvius used the same measurements in the construction of his buildings."

11. The body is drawn with measuring lines


If you look closely at the chest, arms and face of the person in the drawing, you will notice straight lines marking the proportions that Leonardo wrote about in his notes. For example, the part of the face from the bottom of the nose to the eyebrows makes up a third of the face, as does the part of the face from the bottom of the nose to the chin and from the eyebrows to the line where the hair begins to grow.

12. The sketch has other, less esoteric names


The sketch is also called the "Canon of Proportions" or "Proportions of a Man".

13. Vitruvian Man poses 16 poses at once


At first glance, you can see only two poses: standing man, who has his legs together and his arms outstretched, and a standing man with his legs spread and his arms raised. But part of the genius of Leonardo's depiction is that there are 16 poses depicted simultaneously in one drawing.

14. Leonardo da Vinci's creation was used to depict modern problems


Irish artist John Quigley used the iconic image to illustrate the issue of global warming. To do this, he depicted a many times enlarged copy of the Vitruvian Man on the ice in the Arctic Ocean.

15. The original sketch rarely appears in public


Copies can be found literally everywhere, but the original is too fragile to be displayed in public. The Vitruvian Man is usually kept under lock and key in the Galleria dell'Accademia in Venice.

Vitruvian Man.

Introduction:

is a world famous drawing created by Leonardo da Vinci in 1487. His work is based on the work of Vitruvius. A man named Marcus Vitruvius Pollio (b. c. 80-70 BC, died after c. 15 BC), Roman writer, architect and engineer, active in the 1st century BC. AND ive was still during the birth and life of Jesus Christ. It is known that da Vinci named his drawing of a man inscribed in a square and a circle in honor of the ancient scientist "". Most people do not know that 2000 years ago there was a brilliant scientist, Vitruvious, who, like Da Vinci in his time, created drawings and drawings of mechanisms, but he also tried to derive a mathematical code or a universal mathematical formula on the basis of which the creator created man, which according to him ideas undoubtedly existed.

This is how Vetruvius described the human body.

  1. The distance from the tip of the middle finger, the longest, to the base of the four fingers, the lowest, is equal to the width of the palm.
  2. The length of the foot consists of three palms.
  3. the elbow consists of six palms.
  4. four cubits is the height of a person or 24 of his palms.
  5. The width of the step corresponds to a distance of four palms.
  6. the distance between the fingertips of spread human hands is its height.
  7. 1/10 of its height is the distance from the chin to the hairline.
  8. 1/8 of its height is the distance from the chin to the top of the head.
  9. 1/4 of its height is the distance from the nipples to the crown.
  10. 1/4 of its height is the maximum shoulder width.
  11. 1/4 of its height is the distance from the tip of the hand to the elbow.
  12. 1/8 of its height is the distance from the armpit to the elbow.
  13. 2/5 of its height is the length of the arm.
  14. 1/3 of the length of his face is the distance from his nose to his chin.
  15. 1/3 of the length of his face is the distance from the eyebrows to the hairline.
  16. 1/3 of the length of the face is the length of the ears.
  17. The center of the circle is the human navel.

The drawing, done in pen and ink and watercolor with a metal pencil on paper, depicts a nude male figure in two superimposed positions with arms apart, legs brought together, inscribed in a square and arms and legs spaced apart and simultaneously inscribed in a circle. Upon careful examination of the drawing, it turns out that the center of the circle is the person’s navel, and the center of the square is his genitals. The drawing is sometimes called the canon of proportions, or less commonly, the proportion of a person. It is kept in the Galleria dell'Accademia in Venice, Italy, and, like most of da Vinci's works on paper, is exhibited to the public only from time to time.

Leonardo da Vinci, Vitruvian Man, 1487, 34.4 ? 25.5 cm (13.5 ? 10.0 V)

Works of the Roman architect Vitruvius (Marcus Vitruvius Pollio), describing perfection human form in geometric terms, were a source of inspiration for many Renaissance artists. Only one of them, incomparable and brilliant Leonardo da Vinci, was successful in depicting the correct proportions performed in the work “ Vitruvian Man”, and as a result, this drawing subsequently became the most famous drawing in the world, recognized as the canon of proportions of the human physical body and beauty. Only extensive knowledge of anatomy and geometry allowed Leonardo da Vinci to solve this problem and complete this unique drawing.

The drawing is based on the correlation of ideal human proportions with geometry as described by the ancient Roman architect Vitruvius in the third book of his treatise De Architectura. Vitruvius described human figure, as a source with a major share among classical orders for artists. Other artists have tried to depict this on canvas, with less success. The drawing is traditionally named after its creator, who developed the idea and made a description of the mathematical and geometric proportions.

The image became an example of the combination of art and science during the Renaissance and provided big interest Leonardo to proportion. Moreover, this painting represents the cornerstone of Leonardo's attempts to relate man to nature. IN Encyclopedia Britannica says: "Leonardo envisioned a large diagram of the human body, which he created as an anatomical drawing and at the same time as a cosmografia-dell-minor Mondo (cosmography of the microcosm). He believed that if you understand the mathematical principles by which the human body is created, you can will, by analogy, understand the mathematical principles of the creation of the universe. "In addition, according to some, Leonardo symbolized material existence as a square, and spiritual life as a circle. [Source: Wikipedia.org]

Vitruvius, De Architectura: PLANNING OF TEMPLES, Book 3, Chapter I

1. The planning of temples depends on symmetry: and the method of this architects should diligently remember. It arises from proportion (which in Greek is called analogia). The share consists in adopting a fixed module, in each case, both for part of the building and for the whole, with the help of which the method of symmetry is created in practice. For without symmetry and proportion in plan, it is impossible to build a temple, that is, it must have an accurate developed plan with calculated symmetry, as can be seen in a smaller model, this is a model of the creation of a perfect human body by the creator

2. Nature has so planned the human body that the face from the chin to the top of the forehead and the roots of the hair forms a tenth part of the human body, and the palm from the wrist to the top of the middle finger to the same extent, the head from the chin to the crown, an eighth part, from the top chest from the bottom of the neck to the roots of the hair, a sixth part, from the middle of the chest to the crown, a fourth part, a third part from the height of the face from the bottom of the chin to the bottom of the nostril, the nose from the bottom of the nostrils to the line between the eyebrows, the same amount, from this lines to the roots of the hair, the forehead is given as the third part. Leg 1/6 of body height; elbow 1/4, chest and 1/4. Other terms also have their own proportional dimensions. And with the help of this knowledge, ancient artists and famous sculptors achieved great and unlimited possibilities in creating their masterpieces.

3. In accordance with a similar scheme for constructing the human body, parts of the planned temples should be calculated in the same proportions so that their dimensions individual parts corresponded to the total amount of the entire size of the temple. Now as far as the center is concerned, the navel is naturally exactly in the center of the body. For if a person lies on his back, with his arms and legs spread out, then his navel is located in the center of the circle, his body, arms and legs will be inscribed in the circle. The situation is the same with a square shape; a square inscribed in a drawing produces the same round number. For if we measure from the sole of the foot to the top of the head, and also the distance between the outstretched arms, the latitude will be found equal height, like buildings that are squared according to the same rules.

4. Therefore, if nature planned the human body so that its parts corresponded to their proportions to its complete configuration, then the ancients seem to have had every reason to observe proportions in the execution of their works, they had to observe the precise adjustment of the several parts to the general structure of the plan . Therefore, since in all their works they adhered to the plan, they did so, especially in the creation of the temple, the excellences and defects of which were usually extolled in subsequent centuries. [Source: aiwaz.net]

Geometric constructions Vitruvian man Leonardo da Vinci.

It is assumed that the proportion of a circle and a square is reflected Golden ratio. Here we present an analysis that shows that this assumption is incorrect.

If a circle has radius = 1 contour, the side of the square is:

1.656 for Vitruvian Man

1.618 Golden Ratio Constant

Let’s take 1.571 as the state: circumference of a circle = perimeter of the area

Let’s take 1.772 as the state: area of ​​a circle = area of ​​a square

Rice. 1 Comparison of a true rectangle in the golden ratio with a rectangle in the Vitruvian Man drawing.

Rice. 2 circle and square based on the golden ratio proportion.

The squaring of the circle is a problem proposed by ancient geometers. This is the problem of constructing a square in the same area of ​​a given circle using only a finite number of steps with a compass and ruler.

Rice. 2b Squaring the circle.

Right image: Squaring the circle. the areas of this area and this circle are equal

Left image: The circumference of a circle is equal to the perimeter of the area.

Rice. 2b Left shows a circle with radius = 1 and a square with side = 1.571. The circumference of the circle = 6.28...a square with side 1.571 has a perimeter equal to 6.28.


The Vitruvian Man is a drawing made by Leonardo Da Vinci around 1490-1492, as an illustration for a book dedicated to the works of Vitruvius. The drawing is accompanied by explanatory notes in one of his journals. It depicts the figure of a naked man in two superimposed positions: with his arms spread to the sides, describing a circle and a square. The drawing and text are sometimes called canonical proportions.

1. Leonardo never intended to show off his Vitruvian Man.


The sketch was discovered in one of the personal notebooks of the Renaissance master. In fact, Leonardo drew the sketch for his own research and did not even suspect that he would one day be admired. However, today "Vitruvian Man" is one of the artist's most famous works, along with "The Last Supper" and "Mona Lisa".

2. Combining art and science


A true representative of the Renaissance, Leonardo was not only a painter, sculptor and writer, but also an inventor, architect, engineer, mathematician and anatomy expert. This ink drawing was the result of Leonardo's study of theories about human proportions described by the ancient Roman architect Vitruvius.

3. Leonardo wasn’t the first to try to illustrate Vitruvius’ theories.


Modern scholars believe that in the 15th century and subsequent decades there were many people who tried to express this idea in visual form.

4. Perhaps the drawing was not only made by Leonardo himself


In 2012, Italian architectural historian Claudio Sgarbi published findings that Leonardo's research into the proportions of the human body was prompted by similar research done by his friend and fellow architect Giacomo Andrea de Ferrara. It is still unclear whether they worked together. Even if this theory is incorrect, historians agree that Leonardo improved on the shortcomings of Giacomo's work.

5. Circle and square have their own hidden meaning


In their mathematical studies, Vitruvius and Leonardo described not only the proportions of man, but also the proportions of all creation. In a notebook from 1492, Leonardo's note was found: "Ancient man was the world in miniature. Since man consists of earth, water, air and fire, his body resembles a microcosm of the Universe."

6. "Vitruvian Man" - just one of many sketches


In order to improve his art and better understand how the world around him worked, Leonardo painted many people to form an idea of ​​ideal proportions.

7. Vitruvian Man - the ideal man


Who served as the model will remain a mystery, but art historians believe that Leonardo took some liberties in his drawing. This work was not so much a portrait as a faithful depiction of the ideal male form from a mathematical point of view.

8. It could be a self-portrait


Since there are no descriptions of the model from which this sketch was drawn, some art historians believe that Leonardo drew the “Vitruvian Man” from himself.

9. The Vitruvian Man Had a Hernia


Imperial College London surgeon Hutan Ashrafyan, 521 years after the creation of the famous drawing, established that the man depicted in the sketch had an inguinal hernia, which could lead to his death.

10. To understand the full meaning of the drawing, you need to read the notes to it


When the sketch was originally discovered in Lernardo's notebook, next to it were the artist's notes on human proportions, which read: "The architect Vitruvius states in his work on architecture that the dimensions of the human body are distributed according to the following principle: the width of 4 fingers is equal to 1 palm, foot is 4 palms, a cubit is 6 palms, the full height of a person is 4 cubits or 24 palms... Vitruvius used the same measurements in the construction of his buildings."

11. The body is drawn with measuring lines


If you look closely at the chest, arms and face of the person in the drawing, you will notice straight lines marking the proportions that Leonardo wrote about in his notes. For example, the part of the face from the bottom of the nose to the eyebrows makes up a third of the face, as does the part of the face from the bottom of the nose to the chin and from the eyebrows to the line where the hair begins to grow.

12. The sketch has other, less esoteric names


The sketch is also called the "Canon of Proportions" or "Proportions of a Man".

13. Vitruvian Man poses 16 poses at once


At first glance, you can see only two poses: a standing person with his legs together and his arms outstretched, and a standing person with his legs apart and his arms raised. But part of the genius of Leonardo's depiction is that there are 16 poses depicted simultaneously in one drawing.

14. Leonardo da Vinci's creation was used to depict modern problems


Irish artist John Quigley used the iconic image to illustrate the issue of global warming. To do this, he depicted a many times enlarged copy of the Vitruvian Man on the ice in the Arctic Ocean.

15. The original sketch rarely appears in public


Copies can be found literally everywhere, but the original is too fragile to be displayed in public. The Vitruvian Man is usually kept under lock and key in the Galleria dell'Accademia in Venice.

It is worth noting that the work of the great da Vinci is also addressed contemporary artists. Yes, it was recently created