Vitruvian Man

The Vitruvian Man is a world-renowned drawing created by Leonardo da Vinci around the year 1490. It is named after the ancient Roman architect Vitruvius, who defined the principles that Leonardo illustrated in this drawing. The artwork is sometimes also referred to as the "Canon of Proportions" or "Proportions of Man."

The Vitruvian Man is a study of the proportions of the human body, accompanied by notes based on the work of Vitruvius. The drawing, which is in pen and ink on paper, depicts a man in two superimposed positions with his arms and legs apart and inscribed in a circle and square. The drawing and text are sometimes called the Canon of Proportions or, less often, Proportions of Man.

Here are key features of the Vitruvian Man:

1. The Circle and the Square: The man's outstretched limbs touch the circumference of the circle and the edges of the square. This represents the belief that the human body is the principal source of proportion in the design of architecture, aligning with the teachings of Vitruvius.
2. The Superimposition: Leonardo superimposes two positions of a man, a set of arms and legs apart, and another with arms and legs outspread. This highlights the range of motion of the human body and links it with geometric shapes, further solidifying the relationship between the natural world and geometrical principles.
3. Anatomical Accuracy: Leonardo da Vinci was fascinated by the human body's form and function. His depiction of the human figure in the Vitruvian Man is meticulously detailed and anatomically accurate, a testament to Leonardo's observational skills and understanding of the human anatomy.
4. Vitruvian Principles: Alongside the drawing, Leonardo's notes discuss the work of Vitruvius and the architectural principles based on the human body's proportions. This includes statements like "the span of a man's outspread arms is equal to his height," which demonstrates the equal measures of the circle and the square.

The Vitruvian Man is kept in the Gallerie dell'Accademia, in Venice, Italy, and due to its age and susceptibility to damage from exposure to light, the drawing is only displayed on special occasions.

This artwork stands as a testament to Leonardo's scientific interest and his deep understanding of proportion and geometry. It remains one of the most iconic representations of the fusion between art and science.