ArtGolden Ratio

Renaissance

Golden ratioThe golden ratio is a special number approximately equal to 1.618. If you divide a line into two parts so that: the longer part divided by the smaller part is also equal to the whole length divided by the longer part then you will have the golden ratio. The golden section is also a term that describes a unique measurement phenomenon in nature wherein the off-centered proportional finite value of about 5 to 8 represents a measurement with infinite values.

Many artists, architects and mathematicians believed (and still believing) this proportion is aesthetically pleasing. Mathematicians have

studied the golden ratio because of its unique and interesting properties.

Art

The Renaissance marks the period of European history at the close of the Middle Ages and the

rise of the Modern world. It represents a cultural rebirth from the 14th through the middle of the

17th centuries. Early Renaissance, mostly in Italy, bridges the art period during the fifteenth

century, between the Middle Ages and the High Renaissance in Italy. It is generally known that

Renaissance matured in Northern Europe later, in 16th century.

Piero della Francesca

It portrays Christ being baptised by John, his head

surmounted by a dove representing the Holy Spirit. Christ, John's hand, the bird and the bowl form an axis which divides the painting in two symmetrical parts. A second division is created

by the tree on the left, which instead divides it according to the golden

ratio.

Baptism of Christ

Sandro BotticelliThe Birth of the

Venus Botticelli (1445-1510) had to be fascinated by the golden proportion, since used it for his "Birth of Venus. " In fact if you

measure the height of the navel height overall, their relationship will be 0.618,

as well as between the distance between the

neck of the femur and the knee and the length of the

entire leg or the relationship between the elbow and the tip of the middle finger and arm

length.

Leonardo Da Vinci

He explored the human body involving in the ratios of the lengths of various body

parts. He called this ratio the "divine proportion" and featured it in many of his

paintings and used this ratio very impressive.

Leonardo Da Vinci explored the human body involving in the ratios of the lengths of various body

parts. He called this ratio the "divine proportion" and featured it in many of his paintings.

Old Man

Vitruvian Man

Mona Lisa

Using the left side of the painting as a side, create a square on the left of the painting by inserting a vertical line. Notice that you have created a square and a rectangle. The rectangle turns out to be a Golden Rectangle, of course. Also, draw in a horizontal line that is

61.8% of the way down the painting (.618 - the inverse of the Golden Ratio). Draw another line that is 61.8% of the way up the painting. Try again with vertical lines that are 61.8% of the way

across both from left to right and from right to left. You should now have four lines drawn across the painting. Notice that these lines intersect important parts of the painting, such as the angel, the

woman, etc. Coincidence? I think not!

The Annunciation

 In The Last Supper golden rectangles can be seen. He applied golden section from the

dimensions of the table which Jesus sat, to the wall and window.

The Last Supper

Measure the length and the width of the painting itself.

The ratio is, of course, Golden. Draw a rectangle around Mona's face (from the top of the forehead to the base of the chin, and from left cheek to right

cheek) and notice that this, too, is a Golden rectangle.

Mona Lisa

Georges SeuratBathers

The horizon falls exactly at the golden section of the

height of the painting.  The trees and people are placed

at golden sections of smaller sections of the

painting.

Circus Sideshow (Parade de Cirque)

Seurat’s painting which is following Circus Sideshow has a large number of the

golden rectangle. This painting rely on the

principle of the golden ratio. The people’s who are on the

left side of the picture, above the waist per unit

(1.618), down 1 unit. 

Edward Burne JonesGolden Stairs

Golden sections appear in the stairs and the ring of the

trumpet carried by the fourth woman from the top. 

The lengths of the gowns from the sash below the

breast to the bottom hem hits the phi point at their knees.  The width of the

interior door at the back of the top of the stairs is a

golden section of the width of the top of the opening of

the skylight.  

Salvador Dali

In addition, the windows in the background are formed by a large dodecahedron.  Dodecahedrons consist of 12 pentagons, which exhibit phi relationships in their

proportions.

The Sacrament of the Last Supper Following Da

Vinci's lead, Dali positioned the table exactly at

the golden section of the height of his painting.  He

positioned the two disciples at Christ's side at

the golden sections of the

width of the composition.

http://jwilson.coe.uga.edu

http://britton.disted.camosun.bc.ca

http://goldennumber.net

http://en.wikipedia.org

References

Safa ADAKUL

Cansu YAVUZMarcelo RAMOS