Proportion
•In the fine arts, proportion means a designed relationship of
measure. Proportion is a planned ratio of magnitudes or of
intervals of the same kind, such as time, space, pitch, value
•However, since the following chapter deals with surface
division, we need consider only two dimensional space-that is,
magnitudes and intervals of length and area, which, of all
dimensions, are easiest to measure and relate.
Surface Division
•Whether the problem is one of industrial , decorative, or
architectural design, concerning cabinet, mural, or façade, the
solution involves making a plan of surface division.
•Design is the art relation or unifying contrasting elements.
From the standpoint of design, therefore, the best possible
division of any surface is one that creates those two basic
requisites of all fine design, unity and variety.
The Golden Mean
•The Golden Mean is the structural motif of plant and animal
life, as manifested by leaf arrangement, seed pods, sea shells,
and cell growth. The pine cone and sunflower are notable
examples of natural design based on this proportional ratio.
The Golden Rectangular
Vitruvius described as the principal source of proportion among the orders of
proportion of the human figure.
According to Leonardo's notes in the accompanying text, written in mirror writing, it
was made as a study of the proportions of the (male) human body as described in a
treatise by the Ancient Roman architect Vitruvius, who wrote that in the human
body:
a palm is the width of four fingers or three inches
a foot is the width of four palms and is 36 fingers or 12 inches
a cubit is the width of six palms
a man's height is four cubits and 24 palms
a pace is four cubits or five feet
the length of a man's outspread arms is equal to his height
the distance from the hairline to the bottom of the chin is one-tenth of a man's height
the distance from the top of the head to the bottom of the chin is one-eighth of a
man's height
the maximum width of the shoulders is a quarter of a man's height
the distance from the elbow to the tip of the hand is one-fifth of a man's height
the distance from the elbow to the armpit is one-eighth of a man's height
the length of the hand is one-tenth of a man's height
the distance from the bottom of the chin to the nose is one-third of the length of the
head
the distance from the hairline to the eyebrows is one-third of the length of the face
the length of the ear is one-third of the length of the face
Parade by Seuart
Annunciation by DA Vinci
Parthenon, Greek
Parthenon, Greek
Basilica of San Marco, Venice.
Santa Maria Di Collemaggio, Aquila
