PROPORTION
PROPORTION is the relative scale of objects and shapes to one another and to the viewer.
Parts are in proportion to each other in predictable ways. Figures that match certain
proportions, or ratios, look more natural.
Proportion is expressed in the human body
body.
Silver Statuette of a Goddess, cast
ast and repoussé silver with gold jewelry,
150-230 A.D., Roman. [1971.131]
Proportion is expressed in architecture
architecture.
Proportion is expressed in art.
Portrait of a Young Man, oil on wood panel, 1631,
Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn (Dutch, 1606-1669). [1926.64]
What happens when the proportion
proportions do not agree?
Proportion
roportion is seen everywhere in our world
world, from nature to architecture and even in our teeth.
How does proportion match up in these images?
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flower_of_bird
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flower_of_bird-of-paradise.jpg
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Paris
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Paris-notre-dame-facade.jpg
.382
.618
The Shepherd’s Star, oil on canvas, 1887. Jules Breton (French, 1827-1906). [1922.41]
The numbers shown here
ere are the same for the flower, the cathedral
ral as well as for the
painting.
Proportion is used by artists to create a visually satisfying arrangement.
“The eye was the perfect instrument for learning these laws, and the artist the perfect
person to illustrate them.” Leonardo DaVinci
The Crowning of Saint Catherine,, oil on canvas, 1631 (1633?). Peter Paul Rubens (Flemish, 1577-1640
1640). [1950.272]
This painting is widely considered the most beautifully painted religious picture by
Rubens in the United States. If you squint your eyes, you can see a natural flow that is
in “correct proportion.” Starting in the left bottom corner imagine a line flowing
upwards to the right in a spiral
spiral.
Artists as well as scientists, philosophers, architects and many more have determined
this measurable proportion throughout human history to be most pleasing to the
th eye.
This concept has many names
names; Golden Proportion, Golden Ratio, Golden Mean, Golden
Triangle and Golden Section to name a few. They divide up the picture in different
ways, but ultimately have the same ratio of division.