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Art History Start
here Principles of Balance, symmetry,
composi!on
Principles of composi!on
and emphasis
by Dr. Asa Mi!man.

Balance, symmetry, and

emphasis Google Classroom Facebook
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Balance and symmetry

Propor"on and scale

Pa!ern, repe""on and

rhythm, variety and unity

Next lesson
An introduc"on to art hist…
Perugino, Christ Giving the Keys of the Kingdom to St. Peter, Sis"ne
Chapel, 1481-83, fresco, 10 feet 10 inches x 18 feet (Va"can, Rome)

Balance is an even use of elements throughout a

work of art. Symmetry is a very formal type of
balance consis"ng of a mirroring of por"ons of an
image. Bilateral symmetry, that is, two- sided
symmetry, is the most common, in which two
halves of a work of art mirror each other, as in
Perugino’s pain"ng, Christ Giving the Keys of the
Kingdom to St. Peter. In this pain"ng, the symmetry
gives the pain"ng not only a sense of balance, but
also a sense of calm, stability, and formality.
No"ce in par"cular the way that the building and
arches in the background are painted to make the
work symmetrical.

Just as the structures, themselves, are symmetrical

in Perugino’s pain"ng, symmetry is also common
in major works of architecture, where it lends
buildings a tone of stability and power. Classical
Greek temples like the Temple of Artemis at Corfu
are rigidly symmetrical.
Temple of Artemis, Corfu, Greece, c. 600-580 B.C.E.

In this diagram (the temple is now a ruin), even the

sculpture on the façade — the front of a building
— is nearly perfectly symmetrical. At the outer
corners are a mirrored pair of fallen warriors, then
two pairs (one now fragmentary) of figh"ng
figures, then two mirrored panthers, and then, in
the center, Medusa, with two of her children
beside her (Pegasus and Chrysaor).
Pediment detail, Temple of Artemis, Corfu, Greece, c. 600-580 B.C.E.

Even the fearsome Gorgon in the center is

presented facing directly outward at us, so that
her face can be presented in hideous symmetry,
with her great, bulging eyes, grimacing mouth,
plaited hair, and even the snakes that emerge from
the back of her head carved in perfect symmetry.
This work should serve to counter the frequently
made statement that symmetry makes works
beau"ful. While many cultures associate
symmetry with beauty, and this temple as a whole
might be described as such, a grotesque figure
remains grotesque even when perfectly
symmetrical.

Radial symmetry
Radial symmetry is created when an image is
symmetrical around a central point or axis, like a
sunflower viewed head-on. Radial symmetry
creates a strong sense of unity in a work of art,
and is common in sacred images.
Garbhadhatu (Taizokai) Mandala (Womb World), mandala of Innate
Reason and Original Enlightenment, Japan, Heian period (Tantric
Buddhism), late 9th century, colors on silk (public domain)

In a Shingon Tantric Buddhist World Womb

Mandala, all points seem to radiate outward from
the central figure of the Buddha. The numerous
figures around him are bodhisa!vas, individuals
who have chosen out of compassion to delay their
entry into Nirvana in order to help others who are
suffering. It is fi$ng that they are shown as if
emana"ng out of the Buddha, himself, as his
enlightenment and compassion are the source and
model for theirs. The image also gives a sense that
the universe itself is highly ordered.

Asymmetrical balance
Polykleitos, Doryphoros (Spear-Bearer), c. 450-40 B.C.E., ancient Roman
marble copy found in Pompeii of the lost bronze original, 211 cm
(Archaeological Museum, Naples)

However, perfect symmetry is not necessary to

create a sense of balance in an image.
Asymmetrical balance is created when two sides
of an image do not mirror each other, but s"ll have
approximately the same visual weight, the same
amount of detail or shapes or color, and so on. The
Classical Greek sculpture Doryphoros (The
Spearbearer) by Polykleitos provides a clear
example of asymmetrical balance. The figure does
not stand in a symmetrical way, but overall, seems
even, calm, balanced. In this case, the figure has
his weight on his right leg, so this leg is tensed.
The le% leg is relaxed and bent. Balancing this out,
the right arm hangs loosely, but the le% arm is
tensed. In this way, the body — which itself is
symmetrical, or would be if he were posed with
his feet side by side, looking straight ahead, with
his arms hanging down — is balanced. This pose is
called contrapposto, and is o%en used to give
standing human figures a sense of life and
anima"on.

Emphasis
Emphasis consists of drawing a!en"on to one or
more points in a work. This can be accomplished
through any of the visual elements. In the World
Womb Mandala, the Buddha is emphasized
through loca"on (he is centered in the image),
color (the vivid red petals around him draw the
eye), line (all of the rows of figures essen"ally
guide the eye inward to the center through
implied lines, and the lines dividing the red petals
direct us inward, as well), symmetry (the radial
symmetry focuses us inward to the center), and so
on. In essence, we cannot help but return, again
and again, to the Buddha, the focus of the image
and also the focus of Buddhist devo"on.
 Sort by: Top Voted

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LUCAS917 a year ago

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Emphasis consists of drawing a!en"on to

one or more points in a work.
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tchainam0001 7 months ago

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Do we do like,challenges in this, or just

read?
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6 months
m…
Alejandro ago

Ask ques"ons and answer a few

in the process.
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AthenaAltar4 5 months ago
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I don't understand Radial Symmetry...

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4 months
ago m…
dadasheck

Like the text suggest, you should

try thinking of it as a grid! If you
take a look at the example that
this ar"cle gives us, we see the
buddha in the center and many
other figures that surround it. So
think of the figures as points, the
center is (0,0) and then (1,0) (2,0)
(3,0)... and so on, thinking of it
this way will show you why it is
symmetrical.

Also, note who is in the middle.

The middle figure will o%en be
the most important and as you
get closer to the outer frame of
the picture the figure(s) becomes
less important.

Hope I was able to help you out

somewhat!
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JACOB RAMIREZ 8 months ago
more

emphasis shows where the eyes of

someone looking at the drawing are
supposed go
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6 months
m…
Tecumseh ago

That's correct. Emphasis can be

purposefully created within
composi"ons to focus the
viewer's a!en"on on specific
areas, imagery, and even
conceptal ideas communicated
within an artwork.

Just remember that a skilled

ar"st can use any aspect of the
Elements of Art and Principals of
Composi"on, as well as certain
conceptual considera"ons, to
compose and control how their
artwork is intended to be
ac"vely seen and interpreted by
the viewer.
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deadly sasuke 4 months ago
more

How is the radical symmetry made by

symmetrical around a central point or axis,
like a sunflower viewed head-on. Radial
symmetry creates a strong sense of unity
in a work of art, and is common in sacred
images?How will you do that if you're not
in Greece?
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4
…
months
CAPTAIN Jack Sparrow ago

Radial symmetry is like a flower,

some kinds of pies, or even a
cheese pizza. the petals "radiate"
from the center and are all pre!y
much the same. radial symmetry
can be found in nature, logos,
popular images, and pain"ngs. it
creates unity because, visually,
nothing is separated or sorted.
the petals on a flower all kind of
look like they were stuck
together, and there are no
dis"nct differences from one
area of the flower to another.
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 kbradburn27 a month ago
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why use symmetry in the background?

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K Fox 17 days ago

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Probably to give a more

organised look.
(3
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