Week 2: Math and Art

Before this week’s lecture I had never thought about how heavy of an influence mathematics actually has on art. In Renaissance times when new discoveries were being made, artists would use math for the incorporation of shapes into their work. They would need to measure the areas or volumes of shapes like circles, ovals, polygons, and spheres. Another major discovery made was the concept of using formulas in order to change the perspective of paintings. Artists could now draw 3-dimensional drawings on 2 dimensional objects due to the incorporation of math into their work. Math was also incorporated into art when architects were designing buildings. Famous Egyptian and Greek structures were built upon the theories of Artists' mathematic formulas.The historical buildings, paintings, sculptures, and other famous artistic pieces we see today would not be the same if it weren’t for mathematics.

(Contemporary shapes in an Art Gallery)

http://mrhonner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Suspended-Solids.jpg

(The Sistine Madonna by Raphael, a 3D painting from the Renaissance Period)
https://www.history.org.uk/resources/general_news_707.html

One of the most revolutionary introductions of mathematics into art was Da Vinci’s Vitruvian man. It has been used as the main symbol of the fusion of math and art. The drawing is based on the ideal of human proportions geometrically described by architect Vitruvius. The human figure is a source of proportion in regards to classic architecture. Each small part of the human body is a fraction of the whole. Da Vinci tried to connect this idea of human proportion as the ideal to other aspects of the natural world. He even stated that “Man is the model of the world.” This diagram was studied and used by countless Artists and Architects throughout history. 

http://leonardodavinci.stanford.edu/submissions/clabaugh/history/leonardo.html

I found it very fascinating learning about how math was such a critical part of art.

The idea of creating impressions of depth and 3D images was initially introduced by Giotto, then it was perfected by Brunelleschi. Brunelleschi is credited with the first correct formulation of linear perspective. The science of optics was another widely studied perspective. Al-Haytham introduced his book which gave the first correct explanation of vision. Alberti and Piero de la Francesca both used Al-Haytham’s study in their own work. Then, Leonardo Da Vinci began to write about perspective, and developed mathematical formulas regarding distance of object to the eye. One concept that I find the most interesting is the golden ratio, which was the ultimate connection of art and science. It was first shown in the Great Pyramids of Egypt. The ratio was also used in other famous historical structures, like the Parthenon in Greece.

http://s.hswstatic.com/gif/parthenon-golden-ratio-orig.jpg

https://holylandphotos.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/atlasa85.jpg

I would explain the juxtaposition of art and science as two things that go hand in hand, as mathematic tools are essential to creating art as we know it. Paintings can appear to be 3 dimensional because of mathematic formulas and architectural structures are both functional and appealing to the eye because of concepts like the “Golden Ratio.” Art would not be the same today if it weren’t for the theories of Renaissance Artists and Mathematicians.

Works Cited

“Vitruvian Man.” BBC. BBC. N.d. Web. 8 Apr 2016.

Vesna, Victoria. “Lecture 2.” Cole UC online. Youtube. 9 Apr 2012. Web. 8 Apr 2016.

History.com Staff. “Leonardo Da Vinci.” History.com. A+E Networks. 2009. Web. 9 Apr 2016.

“Discovering Linear Perspective.” The Renaissance Connection. Allen Town Art Museum. N.d. Web. 9 Apr 2016.

“Brunelleschi’s Peepshow and the Origins of Perspective.” Dartmouth.edu. Paul Calter. N.d. Web. 9 Apr 2016.