Week 2 | Math + Arts

From the lecture recordings this week, one of the most important insights I've gained was just how significant the renaissance era was for art and science. Most notably, artists like Filippo Brunelleschi, Galileo Galilei, and Leonardo da Vinci truly demonstrate how the sciences and the arts complement each other. 



[Figure 1] Construction of the Florentine Duomo
In the case of Filippo Brunelleschi, his design of a dome over the Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral still holds the title for the world's biggest dome built with masonry. To accomplish this, with no formal engineering training, Brunelleschi came up with various innovative ideas derived from art to address engineering issues. One such idea was to lay the bricks of the dome in a herringbone pattern so that they would self reinforce itself and prevent tipping as it went up. [1] 



[Figure 2] Galileo Moon Drawing Art Print
In the case of Galileo, his artistic background is what helped set him apart from other astronomers. Though he was not the first astronomer to study the moon, his mastery over light and shadow elevated his illustrations from just drawing to a form scientific instrument in which he was able to convince people that the moon was not perfectly smooth.[2] 



[Figure 3] Mona Lisa Golden Ratio 


Last but not least, the works of Leonardo da Vinci has had profound effects on the understanding of the junction between the arts and sciences. Leonardo sees in geometry the precision as a tool to construct unique compositions in perfect harmony.[3] The most prime example of this is none other than the Mona Lisa. This painting is known throughout the world of artists and mathematicians for its use of the Golden Ratio. 



[Figure 4] Pepsi Cola
The Golden Ratio is essentially a mathematical ratio that when used in art, produces a natural design that is aesthetically pleasing to the eyes. [4] This ratio is seen everywhere such as petals of a flower, the structure of the human face, and even in animal flight patterns. [5] It's no wonder that it even appears in many logos of today's biggest brands such as Pepsi, Apple, and Twitter. [6]

I believe these artists depict the juxtaposition of art and science. That is, the sciences explain the arts, and the arts explain the sciences.



References

[1] “How Brunelleschi Built the World’s Biggest Dome.” HowStuffWorks, 19 Sept. 2019, https://science.howstuffworks.com/engineering/architecture/brunelleschis-dome.htm.

[2] de Padova, Thomas. “Galileo the Artist.” Nature, vol. 452, no. 7185, Mar. 2008, pp. 289–289, doi:10.1038/452289b.

[3] “Leonardo and Mathematics.” The Mona Lisa Foundation, 12 Sept. 2012, http://monalisa.org/2012/09/12/leonardo-and-mathematics-in-his-paintings/.

[4]“What Is the Golden Ratio | Canva.” Learn, https://www.canva.com/learn/what-is-the-golden-ratio/. Accessed 9 Apr. 2021.

[5] 14 Interesting Examples of the Golden Ratio in Nature | Mathnasium. https://www.mathnasium.com/examples-of-the-golden-ratio-in-nature. Accessed 9 Apr. 2021.

[6] “The Golden Ratio: How to Use It in Your next Design.” 99designs, 9 Aug. 2019, https://99designs.com/blog/tips/the-golden-ratio/.


Images: 

[Figure 1] “Double Helix of Masonry — Researchers Uncover the Secret of Italian Renaissance Domes.” Princeton University, https://www.princeton.edu/news/2020/05/21/double-helix-masonry-researchers-uncover-secret-italian-renaissance-domes. Accessed 9 Apr. 2021.

[Figure 2] “Galileo Moon Drawing Art Print by Omikron.” Fine Art America, https://fineartamerica.com/featured/1-galileo-moon-drawing-omikron.html?product=art-print. Accessed 9 Apr. 2021.

[Figure 3] “The Golden Ratio: How to Use It in Your next Design.” 99designs, 9 Aug. 2019, https://99designs.com/blog/tips/the-golden-ratio/.

[Figure 4] O’Connor, Tom. “The Golden Ratio, Logo & Web Design.” Tom’s Blog, 4 Mar. 2014, https://tomscctwebblog.wordpress.com/2014/03/04/the-golden-ratio-and-logo-design/. 



Comments

  1. Bilal Pandit DESMA 9April 11, 2021 at 10:33 PM

    I definitely agree with the impact that the renaissance had on our perception of art and science. It somehow feels that individuals during that time were more open to the idea of these overlapping fields compared to today, as today, we feel the need to place ourselves in certain groups, viewing others as members of a different group and preventing effective communication. I hope that we are able to enter another period of time like the Renaissance where art and science once again merge on a never-before seen scale.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Emily_Lawson_desma9April 11, 2021 at 10:57 PM

    To me at first it was definitely surprising to see so many examples that included the golden ratio that I never realized before! As you have pointed out that many artists influence architecture and science but it is not recognized. I agree that the period of the renaissance was revolutionary and we have yet to determine when we will experience something so great, however I feel that it could potentially be the technological advancements that we continually see today.You have brought up some really good points.

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