Discovery of Leonardo da Vinci's "Vitruvian Man" Enigma by a Dentist and a Protractor
In a groundbreaking discovery, London-based dentist Rory Mac Sweeney has proposed a new hypothesis that sheds light on the intricate design of Leonardo da Vinci's famous sketch, the Vitruvian Man, which was drawn around 1490.
Mac Sweeney's hypothesis connects da Vinci's design to his documented interests in human anatomy, functional relationships, and natural principles. The dentist identified an equilateral triangle positioned between the Vitruvian Man's legs that corresponds exactly to "Bonwill's triangle," a concept established in 1864 by dentist William Bonwill.
Bonwill's triangle, based on the optimal human mandibular function, is not merely anatomical trivia; it governs ideal tooth positioning, jaw relationships, and mandibular movements. In modern dental instruments, it serves as a guideline. Mac Sweeney realised that this same geometric principle appears encoded in da Vinci's drawing and notes, indicating that Leonardo may have applied this anatomical ratio to construct the Vitruvian Man's proportions.
Furthermore, Mac Sweeney demonstrated that by using Bonwill's triangle as a basis, the ratio between the side length of the square and the radius of the circle in the Vitruvian Man is about 1.64 to 1.65. This is remarkably close to the 1.633 ratio seen in natural tetrahedral and hexagonal close-packing structures, hinting that Leonardo's drawing was grounded in precise, natural geometric harmony rather than arbitrary artistic choice or vague references to the Golden Ratio.
The dentist's expertise helped reveal that Leonardo's Vitruvian Man incorporates underlying biological and geometric principles reflecting optimal human craniofacial anatomy. This discovery finally offers a plausible explanation for how Leonardo achieved the ideal fit of the human body within both a circle and a square, solving a 500-year-old mystery about the drawing's mathematical foundation.
The design of the Vitruvian Man was inspired by the writings of Vitruvius, an Ancient Roman architect. Vitruvius wrote about the human body yielding a circular outline and a square, as described by a compass centered at the navel. Mac Sweeney's hypothesis supports this theory, as the centre of the extended limbs in the Vitruvian Man is indeed the navel, and the space between the legs forms an equilateral triangle.
The equilateral triangle in the Vitruvian Man can be extended into three dimensions, forming a tetrahedron with the apex at the glabella (forehead). Mac Sweeney's hypothesis is based on a quote from da Vinci's manuscript notes accompanying the drawing, which suggests a connection between the equilateral triangle known as Bonwill's triangle in dentistry and the design of the Vitruvian Man.
The paper presenting Mac Sweeney's hypothesis has been published in the Journal of Mathematics and the Arts, adding a fascinating new chapter to our understanding of one of the most iconic works of art in history. Previous theories about da Vinci's geometric method have been found to have significant errors, making Mac Sweeney's hypothesis a significant contribution to art history and the study of human proportions.
The dentist's groundbreaking hypothesis, presented in a published paper, links da Vinci's Vitruvian Man to the scientific world, revealing a hidden connection to anatomical ratio found in an 1864 concept named Bonwill's triangle. This geometric principle, integral in modern dental instruments, shapes the ideal tooth positioning, jaw relationships, and mandibular movements.
The equilibrium of human body proportions as depicted in the Vitruvian Man shows a remarkable resemblance to natural tetrahedral and hexagonal close-packing structures, hinting at a precise, natural geometric harmony rather than an arbitrary artistic choice.
This discovery sheds light on the lifestyle and education-and-self-development of Leonardo da Vinci, showcasing his interest in not just art but also science, health-and-wellness (including environmental-science and fitness-and-exercise, as evidenced by the Bonwill's triangle), and even technology (given the mathematical foundation of his drawing).
The intricate design of the Vitruvian Man, originally inspired by Ancient Roman architect Vitruvius, is now explained by environmental-science and space-and-astronomy, two fields that remarkably intertwine with art. The dental-related 'Bonwill's triangle' extends into a three-dimensional tetrahedron, and its presence in da Vinci's work indicates a broader understanding of his artistic and intellectual pursuits.
In the realm of mental-health, this discovery offers a sense of satisfaction and curiosity, as it opens up new avenues for exploration and appreciation of one of the most enduring artworks in history. Furthermore, it highlights how nutrition and climate-change studies can impact our understanding of the past and offer insights into artistic creation.
In essence, Rory Mac Sweeney's hypothesis adds to the rich tapestry of knowledge, redefining our perception of the Vitruvian Man, and underscoring the interconnectedness of various realms within art, science, and lifestyle.
