Aim

• To recognise what the Vitruvian Man is and its significance to science and
geometry.

Success
Success Criteria
Criteria
• To
Statement
describe1 Leonardo
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Da Vinci's
dolor sittheories.
amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
• To
Statement
discuss2what the Vitruvian Man shows us about the human body.
• To• explain
Sub statement
how the Vitruvian Man relates to geometry.
 The Vitruvian Man
Look at this famous picture.
Can you see…

a circle? numbers?

a man?

a square?
writing?
 Who Drew the Vitruvian Man?
The Vitruvian Man is a drawing by
the artist Leonardo Da Vinci.
Do you know any facts about
Leonardo Da Vinci?

Discuss this with your partner.

 Who Was Leonardo Da Vinci?
Leonardo Da Vinci was born near
Florence in Italy in 1452.
He became a world famous artist. He
died in 1519.

He was not just an artist – he was a

scientist, a sculptor, a mathematician
Click on any
and an inventor!
word in bold
Da Vinci lived in a time called the to find out
Renaissance period. During this time, more.
many advances were made in science,
education, literature, art and music.
 Leonardo Da Vinci
Da Vinci is often referred to as a 'Renaissance
Man' because he was an expert in so many
different areas and was able to contribute to the
progress made during this time.

Interesting Facts
•
Despite the fact the Da Vinci had a great
mind and was considered to be a genius,
he never actually went to school!
•
He was left-handed. Did You Know?
•
His surname means 'of Vinci', a village Leonardo Da Vinci loved
in Tuscany, Italy. animals and was a
vegetarian – this was
very unusual during this
time.
 What Is the Vitruvian Man?
The Vitruvian Man is a pen and ink
drawing by Da Vinci. It was drawn in
his journal in approximately 1487.

The drawing shows a male figure in two

superimposed positions.

The arms and legs of the figure are

drawn in two different positions, while
the rest of the body stays in one position.
 What Is the Vitruvian Man?
The drawing is based on the work of the
Ancient Roman architect Vitruvius, who
studied the proportions of the human body.

Along with the drawing, there are notes

written by Leonardo Da Vinci and his ideas
about the proportions of the man's body and
how they relate to geometry.
 Notes About the Vitruvian Man
His notes were written in mirror writing
– in reverse to the natural way of writing
in his language.

When reflected in a mirror, the words

would look normal

Mirror writing can be used as a type of

code so that people cannot read what has
been written.
 What Does the Vitruvian Man Show Us?
The architect Vitruvius had several theories, which is what Da Vinci tried to show
in his drawing of the Vitruvian Man.

For example, one of his theories was:

'The length of a man's outspread arms

is equal to his height'.
How do you think we can test if this is true?
 Let’s Test It!
The Vitruvian theory contains a total of 10
ratios between different parts of the body.
We are going to focus on three of them:

First, let's test if his first ratio is true – is

the length of an outstretched arm span
equal to height?

With a partner, measure each other’s arm

span and height and write them down.

How many are equal?

How many are different?
 Let’s Test It!
The second ratio we will test is:
'The length of the hand is one tenth of the
height'.

With your partner, measure each other’s

height.

Then, measure the length of each other’s

hand.

Is the length of your hand, one tenth of

your height?

How do we find one tenth?

Divide the number by 10.
 Let’s Test It!
The third ratio we will test is:
'The length of the foot is 1/7 of the
height'.

With a partner, measure the length of

your feet and your height.

Is the length of your foot, 1/7 of your

height?

How do we find one seventh?

Divide the number by 7.
 Extend It!
Now, let's create our own
Vitruvian Man pictures.

Your teacher is going to take

a picture of you with your
arms outstretched and legs
straight, and another with
your arms and legs stretched
outwards. Once they are
superimposed, you will have
your own personal Vitruvian
Man picture.
 Glossary
Renaissance period – a time of progress and advancement throughout Europe in
art, literature, science and education from the 14 th - 16th century.

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superimposed – drawn over the top of each other.

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proportions – comparing measurements of parts of something and comparing it

with the entire thing.
geometry – a branch of maths studying size, shape and position of objects.

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