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Golden Ratio in Nature and Art

1. The golden ratio can be seen in nature in flower petals, tree branches, and seed heads. Flower petals and seed heads follow the Fibonacci sequence in their arrangement. Tree branches split according to the Fibonacci sequence. 2. The golden ratio is present in famous works of art. Leonardo Da Vinci incorporated it in his paintings of an old man and the Mona Lisa. Salvador Dali also used the golden ratio in his painting The Sacrament of the Last Supper. 3. Architecture from ancient times makes use of the golden ratio, including the Parthenon, the Great Pyramid of Giza, and Chartres Cathedral. The proportions of these famous structures reflect

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89 views4 pages

Golden Ratio in Nature and Art

1. The golden ratio can be seen in nature in flower petals, tree branches, and seed heads. Flower petals and seed heads follow the Fibonacci sequence in their arrangement. Tree branches split according to the Fibonacci sequence. 2. The golden ratio is present in famous works of art. Leonardo Da Vinci incorporated it in his paintings of an old man and the Mona Lisa. Salvador Dali also used the golden ratio in his painting The Sacrament of the Last Supper. 3. Architecture from ancient times makes use of the golden ratio, including the Parthenon, the Great Pyramid of Giza, and Chartres Cathedral. The proportions of these famous structures reflect

Uploaded by

Christine Reboldad
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Submitted By: BSPSYCH 1B- GroupK

Cabodbod, Kyleen

Liba, Irish Mae

Reboldad, Christine Joy S.

Try to look example for the following and explain the example on to how it is related. (3 example in each
item)(provide Pictures each example)

1. Golden Ratio in Nature

● Flower petals

The number of petals in a flower consistently follows the Fibonacci sequence. Famous examples include
the lily, which has three petals, buttercups, which have five (pictured at left), the chicory's 21,
the daisy's 34, and so on. Phi appears in petals on account of the ideal packing arrangement as
selected by Darwinian processes; each petal is placed at 0.618034 per turn (out of a 360° circle)
allowing for the best possible exposure to sunlight and other factors.
● Tree branches

The Fibonacci sequence can also be seen in the way tree branches form or split. A main trunk will grow
until it produces a branch, which creates two growth points. Then, one of the new stems
branches into two, while the other one lies dormant. This pattern of branching is repeated for
each of the new stems. A good example is the sneezewort. Root systems and even algae exhibit
this pattern.
● Seed heads
The head of a flower is also subject to Fibonaccian processes. Typically, seeds are produced at the
center, and then migrate towards the outside to fill all the space. Sunflowers provide a great
example of these spiraling [Link] some cases, the seed heads are so tightly packed that
total number can get quite high — as many as 144 or more. And when counting these spirals,
the total tends to match a Fibonacci number. Interestingly, a highly irrational number is
required to optimize filling (namely one that will not be well represented by a fraction). Phi fits
the bill rather nicely.

2. Golden Ratio in Arts

● An Old man by Leonardo Da Vinci

Leonardo Da Vinci explored the human body involving in the ratios of the lengths of various body parts.
He called this ratio the "divine proportion" and featured it in many of his [Link] da
Vinci's drawing of an old man can be overlaid with a square subdivided into rectangles, some of
which approximate Golden Rectangles.
● Mona-Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci

This picture includes lots of Golden Rectangles. In above figure, we can draw a rectangle whose base
extends from the woman's right wrist to her left elbow and extend the rectangle vertically until
it reaches the very top of her head. Then we will have a golden rectangle.
Also, if we draw squares inside this Golden Rectangle, we will discover that the edges of these new
squares come to all the important focal points of the woman: her chin, her eye, her nose, and
the upturned corner of her mysterious mouth.
It is believed that Leonardo, as a mathematician tried to incorporate of mathematics into art. This
painting seems to be made purposefully line up with golden rectangle.
● The sacrament of the Last Supper by Salvador Dali(1904-1989)

This picture is painted inside a Golden Rectangle. Also, we can find part of an enormous dodecahedron
above the table. Since the polyhedron consists of 12 regular Pentagons, it is closely connected
to the golden section.

3. Golden Ratio in Architecture

● Parthenon

The Greek sculptor Phidias sculpted many things including the bands of sculpture that run above the
columns of the Parthenon. Even from the time of the Greeks, a rectangle whose sides are in the
"golden proportion" has been known since it occurs naturally in some of the proportions of the
Five Platonic. This rectangle is supposed to appear in many of the proportions of that famous
ancient Greek temple in the Acropolis in Athens, Greece.
● The Great Pyramid
The Ahmes papyrus of Egypt gives an account of the building of the Great Pyramid of Giza in 4700 B.C.
with proportions according to a "sacred ratio." The Great Pyramid of Giza has a base length of
755 ft, height length of 479 ft, which ultimately produces a ratio that is roughly 1.5717, a
number very close to the golden ratio (1.618).

● Chartres Cathedral

The Medieval builders of churches and cathedrals approached the design of their buildings in much
the same way as the Greeks. They tried to connect geometry and art.
Inside and out, their building were intricate construction based on the golden section.

Common questions

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Chartres Cathedral exemplifies the use of the golden ratio to create structures bound by geometric precision and aesthetic harmony. This use underlines a historical view where architecture was seen as an embodiment of divine order, reflecting a spiritual pursuit of creating sacred spaces aligned with universal principles. The golden ratio provided Medieval builders with a means to convey continuity between earthly and heavenly realms in their construction, highlighting the era's synthesis of art, spirituality, and mathematics as a comprehensive approach to sacred architectural design .

In the design of Chartres Cathedral, the golden ratio is used to connect geometry and art within both the exterior and interior structures. This practice echoes Greek methodologies of infusing natural proportions into architectural design. By employing the golden section, medieval architects aimed to create buildings that not only displayed aesthetic beauty but also conveyed spiritual harmony and mathematical precision, underscoring their understanding of geometric principles and their application in structuring complex religious edifices .

The sunflower's seed heads exhibit spirals that adhere to Fibonacci numbers, ensuring optimal packing. Seeds originate at the center and move outward, filling space in a pattern aligned with the golden ratio (Phi). This arrangement minimizes gaps and maximizes seed packing, allowing efficient use of space and resources. The reliance on a highly irrational number like Phi ensures the pattern does not form simple fractions, which aids in optimization and reflects nature's efficiency .

In 'An Old Man', Leonardo Da Vinci uses the golden ratio by overlaying a square subdivided into rectangles that approximate golden rectangles, highlighting his belief in the 'divine proportion'. This incorporation signifies his intention to merge mathematical rigor with art, creating aesthetic balance and emphasizing the mathematical harmony found in human forms. The use of the golden ratio in the drawing signifies a deep understanding of the geometric principles that govern natural beauty .

The Fibonacci sequence is reflected in tree branches where a main trunk grows until it produces a branch, creating two growth points. This pattern is repeated as one of the new stems branches into two, while the other remains dormant. This structural arrangement optimizes light capture and resource allocation, essential for photosynthesis and growth, following a pattern rooted in evolutionary processes. This demonstrates nature's tendency towards efficiency and resilience through mathematical patterns .

The Great Pyramid of Giza's proportions nearly match the golden ratio, with a base length of 755 ft and height of 479 ft producing a ratio close to 1.618. This historical choice of using a 'sacred ratio' reflects the ancient Egyptians' advanced understanding of mathematics and geometry. By embedding such ratios within their architecture, they not only emphasized aesthetic symmetry but also signified a connection to universal principles, hinting at the broader intent of aligning human-made structures with natural and divine order .

Salvador Dali's 'The Sacrament of the Last Supper' is painted within a golden rectangle and incorporates a dodecahedron, whose pentagonal faces relate to the golden section. This layering of geometry within art showcases a renaissance of using mathematical concepts for artistic purposes, reminiscent of Leonardo Da Vinci's work. Such incorporation reflects a bridge between scientific precision and aesthetic exploration, adding an intellectual dimension to visual art and emphasizing harmony, balance, and innovation in modern artistic practices .

The Greeks utilized golden rectangles in the design of the Parthenon, particularly in the proportions of its sculptures and architectural elements. This use demonstrates their keen understanding of visual harmony and elegance, as the golden ratio naturally occurs in the five Platonic solids and represents a universal standard of aesthetic appeal. The implementation of these proportions illustrates their advanced knowledge of mathematics, which they applied to achieve both structural stability and visual perfection in their architectural designs .

Flower petals exhibit the Fibonacci sequence in their numbers - lilies have three petals, buttercups five, and daisies 34. Each petal is placed at intervals of 0.618034 per turn of a 360° circle, a manifestation of the golden ratio. This arrangement maximizes sunlight exposure and space efficiency, providing an evolutionary advantage in terms of photosynthesis and survival. Such efficiency highlights how natural selection favors mathematically inclined growth patterns for optimal ecological adaptation .

Leonardo Da Vinci incorporated the golden ratio in 'Mona Lisa' by structuring the composition with golden rectangles. One such rectangle extends from her right wrist to her left elbow and vertically reaches the top of her head. Squares inside this rectangle align with key focal points such as her chin, eye, and mouth, demonstrating Leonardo's pursuit of harmony and balance through mathematical principles within art. This integration highlights his endeavor to marry art with mathematical precision, suggestive of his profound respect for geometry .

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