Art and Math: Golden Ratio and the De Divina Proportione

In “The Divine Proportion: A Study in Mathematical Beauty,” H.E. Huntley writes about how math is related to basically everything and provides a frame. Math is important to things like art, science, music, and many other things. Huntley was a professor who studied the divine proportion or also known as the “golden ratio.” It is used in math, art, and science.

According to document 4, Al-Khwarizmi, a Muslim mathematician wrote a textbook in the 800’s about algebra which was later adopted throughout Europe. Muslim mathematicians also adopted Arabic numerals from Indians and used them in place-value system. (Doc. 4) These mathematical advances also led to the creation of simple yet complicated structures. Also, after using their observations and their understanding of mathematics, Muslim scholars were able to make an advancement in mapmaking. They used astrolabe and armillary sphere to help study skies and make calculations for calendars and maps. (Doc.

Some of his most famous works are "judgement day", David, the Sistine chapel ceiling and the creation of Adam. All these paintings use the elements of art which are color, form, line, shape, space, texture, and value. The use of spacing and color had not been seen before. Painters usually painted everything one-dimensional and the colors weren't realistic. The Renaissance era of painting introduced painting with three dimensions and realistic colors.

Mathematics and art have always been closely related: Golden ratio, symmetry, proportion and geometry are elements in the art; not surprisingly, many great artists of history have been great mathematicians; they have been supported in mathematics to express reality with an artistic language. By definition geometry comes from the Greek: Ge = earth and Metron = measure. That is, it is the branch of mathematics that studies the measurement of the Earth that is concerned with the properties and relations of points, lines, surfaces, solids, and higher dimensional analogs. (Geometry. (2015).

In many ways, art is how younger children connect with the world. A child may draw a picture of a beautiful sunny day or make a melodies out of bird chips and falling leaves. Art in school curriculum is a vital part of pre-mature education and development. (Evans, 2008, para. 7) Psychologically speaking art builds powerful neural networks in the human brain which has crucial impacts on personality and overall brain development as a child or adolescent. On the opposite end of the spectrum, mathematics also has a very positive impact on brain development, but does not have as important of an effect on human personality and creativity, yet it more often impacts human logistics. Although it is believed that the new innovations of today have come from mathematical genius and computers, the arts and fine arts are a crucial factor in the creation process of life changing inventions. Referring back to how art affects the human brain; humans have left sided thinking (analytics and math) and right sided thinking (art, music, and creativity). The glory of humans is to put both sides to equal use. If society leans too much towards computers and analytics in the future, humans may lose sense of creativity and will function less effectively on a personal and social

His previous interest and work in mathematics and geometry obviously helped in his study of perspective and his contemplative approach to his paintings is apparent in all his works.

Others argue that Literature is one of the most useful Muslim Innovations because it changed how we write and communicate to this day. According to the Muslim Achievements article “Literature, especially poetry, was popular in the muslim world.” While that may be true, Mathmatics Mathematics wasn’t created by Muslims, but there was advancement of mathmatics by the Muslims. According to the Muslim Achievements article “Al-Khwarizmi made outstanding advancements in algebra.” Algebra is a type of mathematics in which letters such as “H” are used as hidden numbers, which gives people the ability to solve complex math problems, such as 2n + -49 x 78m =. Students and adults still use algebra, students take it as a course in math and adults use it in their everyday life.

More than simple geometric composition style and use of linear perspective, The Last Supper reflects Da Vinci’s skills in conveying emotions through gestures

The Fibonacci sequence of numbers is titled after Leonardo de Pisa, who is also known as Fibonacci (Beer 7). Fibonacci was a feudal mathematician (Beer 7). Fibonacci numbers are prevalent in the creation of musical scales (Shah 41). In music the golden ratio creates rhythm and melody, as well as composition (Shah 39). Many investigations found the golden ratio present in the development of rhythmic transitions and melodies (Beer 8). The golden ratio has been known to appear in certain musical periods (Beer 8). The music was arranged proportionally (Beer 8). Certain parts in music with lively transitions were found to be split, in regards to composition, into two sections (Beer 8). They were split be the golden ratio or proportionately (Beer 8). In relation to music, Fibonacci ratios go at a consistent maximum (Beer 7). This is known as the golden ratio but can be called the golden section or golden proportion (Beer 7). The Fibonacci sequence starts with the number one and then the number one again (Shah 36). Every number is made by combining the two numbers beforehand (Shah 36). When splitting the number by the number before it the pattern of the Fibonacci ratios is created (Shah 37). The ratios come together in an even maximum known as the golden ratio (Shah 37). It is known as an irrational number and it is: 1.61803398…

(Renaissance ? Science in the Renaissance) which led to the monumental change in art from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. These mathematical studies are responsible for the famous artwork of Michelangelo and Leonardo, without which the Renaissance would be much less admired by today?s society. The use of depth and perspective, paramount techniques in the art of the Renaissance and of later years, were brought about by the educational studies by artists ? studies that had not been done by artists of previous times (Renaissance ? Science in the Renaissance).

Art can be used to express something thing that words cannot. Math is a big part of art, it can help make a painting more realistic. Using math to get the painting more proportionate and realistic. Previously artist drew things that were more important bigger and things that were less important smaller, which created very unrealistic looking paintings. Renaissance painters were more realistic painters who worried about proportions, instead of drawing something that is important bigger and

The relation between science and art has been long lasting. The first scientific discipline that comes to mind is mathematics and specifically geometry. Before the scientific method of Bacon and the Renaissance we, mankind, had geometry earth measure. Geo + Metry and the Egyptians used it in the architecture of the Pyramids. Herodotus, the Ancient Greek historian wrote

Leonardo Da Vinci, like other artists of his time, paid particular attention to proportion. In The Last Supper, he sought to create a perfect harmonic

There are many connections that can be made between math, art and how the concept of both are not as black and white as most people think. Two subjects of which that could be compared to the concept are Gabriel's horn aka, Torricelli's trumpet, and The Spiral of Theodorus , The Great Wave.

Mathematics has contributed to the alteration of technology over many years. The most noticeable mathematical technology is the evolution of the abacus to the many variations of the calculator. Some people argue that the changes in technology have been for the better while others argue they have been for the worse. While this paper does not address specifically technology, this paper rather addresses influential persons in philosophy to the field of mathematics. In order to understand the impact of mathematics, this paper will delve into the three philosophers of the past who have contributed to this academic. In this paper, I will cover the views of three philosophers of mathematics encompassing their